Medicare National Coverage Update for Cardiology

Why This Topic Matters

Cardiology practices need to track Medicare coverage changes that can affect reimbursement, patient eligibility, and service availability across diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, catheterization, and heart failure-related care.

Article Sections

1. Overview of recent Medicare coverage decisions

   A brief introduction to the scope of the month’s Medicare national coverage activity and the types of cardiology services involved.

2. Microvolt T-wave Alternans

   Coverage status and timing for a cardiology diagnostic service, including the context in which it is being reviewed.

3. Cardiac Rehabilitation Care

   A coverage update addressing expansion of cardiac rehabilitation eligibility across several procedure and transplant categories.

4. Cardiac Catheterization performed in other than a hospital setting

   A policy change involving non-hospital cardiac catheterization and the shift from national oversight to local contractor decisions.

5. Nesiritide for treatment of heart failure patients

   A final national coverage decision concerning an inpatient heart failure treatment and the setting limitations tied to coverage.

6. Electrical bioimpedance for cardiac output monitoring

   A reconsideration request involving expanded coverage for a cardiac monitoring device and the status of the policy review.

7. External counterpulsation therapy

   A final coverage update confirming the current scope of coverage for this therapy and noting the absence of added indications.