Medicare Expands Ultrasound Diagnostic Coverage

The federal government has announced that Medicare will begin covering Doppler ultrasound monitoring of cardiac output for patients in intensive care units (ICUs), or undergoing surgery.

The decision announced this week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reverses Medicare’s long-standing policy of noncoverage for this increasingly important diagnostic test.

What it Means to You:
Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped by the heart over a measured period of time. Accurate monitoring of cardiac output is critical to the successful care and treatment of persons in intensive care or recovering from surgery.

Compared to other methods of cardiac output monitoring, Doppler ultrasound monitoring can be quickly installed, requires minimal technical skill, and is not associated with major complications.

Most importantly, of course, this means that, if you ever need Doppler ultrasound heart flow monitoring, Medicare will pay for it.

Also See:
Medicare Primer
Women's Heart Attack Symptoms Different from Men's
How to Appeal When Medicare Refuses to Pay
How to Tell if Your Heart Is Failing (Heart Disease)