The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it is expanding coverage of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the carotid artery concurrent with stent placement for patients who are at high risk for carotid surgery.
The national coverage determination (NCD) was issued on Thursday, and expands Medicare coverage for carotid artery stenting to high-risk patients with symptomatic narrowing of the carotid artery of 70% or more.
According to the agency, the NCD also will cover patients in certain clinical trials who meet the FDA-labeled criteria for carotid stents (patients who are at high risk for carotid endarterectomy and have symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between 50% and 70%, as well as asymptomatic high-risk patients with carotid artery stenosis of 80% or more).
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
March 18, 2005
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