Medicare to pay for AAA screenings

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 wasn't a complete disaster for radiology. Tucked into the legislation is a provision that establishes Medicare reimbursement for ultrasound screening of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

The Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act was part of the DRA legislation signed into law by President George Bush last week. The act calls for Medicare to cover one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening tests using ultrasound for men ages 65-75 with histories of smoking, as well as men and women ages 65-75 with a family history of AAA.

The legislation amends the Social Security Act to provide coverage under Part B, with patients at risk of AAA receiving scans as part of their "Welcome to Medicare" physical. Reimbursement will begin on January 1, 2007, and the legislation also includes funding for a national AAA informational campaign.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
February 13, 2006

Related Reading

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Aortic wall compliance useful in evaluating AAA risk noninvasively, March 15, 2005

MRI for carotid artery wall thickness measures up to US gold standard, February 3, 2005

Older men should be screened for aortic aneurysm, February 1, 2005

New treatment for aortic aneurysm triggers debate, October 15, 2004

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