The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it intends to extend Medicare coverage of carotid artery stenting to patients who are at high risk if they were to undergo carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
The proposed coverage would be restricted to patients at high risk of complications from CEA, and who have symptomatic narrowing of the carotid artery of 70% or more, according to CMS. Coverage will also be available to asymptomatic high-risk patients enrolled in prospective clinical studies.
The proposed decision will limit coverage to facilities and providers who have demonstrated competence in performing the evaluation, procedure, and necessary follow-up care, CMS said. The agency will collect procedure-related data through a national evaluation system (registry).
Competency will be based on published clinical guidelines that outline physician training standards and facility-support requirements for carotid artery stenting, CMS said. The proposed new coverage policy is available for viewing on the agency's Web site.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
December 20, 2004
Related Reading
U.S. Medicare lays out regions for coverage, December 7, 2004
Carotid stenting safe, comparable to open surgery, December 1, 2004
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Medicare announces payment rates and policy changes, November 3, 2004
CMS finalizes coverage for carotid artery stenting, October 13, 2004
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