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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case.
You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101.
The rules say that cardiovascular nuclear imaging employs non-invasive techniques to assess alterations in
coronary artery flow, and ventricular function.
The specific imaging technique (perfusion versus ventricular function) and the reason for the imaging
determine which radionuclide agent is employed. A myocardial perfusion study utilizes an imaging isotope
agent that reflects segmental and global myocardial blood flow and uptake, the interpretation of which is used
to make inference about the presence of scar and ischemia.
Ventricular function studies utilize specific imaging isotopes to outline the borders of the ventricular
endocardium, or to identify the ventricular blood pool independent of the surrounding myocardium. The
motion of the left ventricle, synchronized with the electrocardiogram, is used to generate wall motion and
ejection fraction information.
These tests may be performed at rest and during exercise, or with pharmacologic intervention when exercise
cannot be performed. The acquisition of the images may be planar (single plane) or by multiple planes with
computer integration, SPECT (single-photon emission computer tomography).
Indications:
Cardiovascular nuclear imaging is indicated for the following:
Assessment of the functional and prognostic importance of angina;
Diagnostic evaluation of patients with chest pain and uninterpretable or equivocal ECG changes caused by
drugs, bundle branch block, or left ventricular hypertrophy;
Assessment of congenital anomalies of coronary arteries;
Risk assessment or re-evaluation of disease in patients who are asymptomatic or have stable symptoms, with
known atherosclerotic heart disease on catheterization or SPECT perfusion imaging, who have not had a
revascularization procedure within the past two years;
Detection of coronary artery disease in patients, without chest pain syndrome, with new-onset of diagnosed
heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction;
Evaluation of ischemic versus non-ischemic cardiomyopathy when cardiac catheterization / coronary
angiography are not planned;
Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and/or function before and after coronary artery bypass surgery or other reperfusion
procedures;
Quantification and surveillance of myocardial infarction and prognostication in patients with infarction;
Assessment of congenital anomalies of coronary arteries;
Preoperative assessment for non-cardiac surgery, when used to determine risk for surgery and/or perioperative
management in:
patients with minor or intermediate clinical risk predictors and poor functional capacity;
patients with intermediate or high likelihood of coronary heart disease, or
patients with poor functional capacity undergoing high risk non-cardiac surgery;
The "ACA/AHA 2007 Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Care for Non-Cardiac
Surgery" (JACC 2007; 50:e159-e242) provides this information:
High risk surgery: aortic and peripheral vascular surgery
Intermediate risk surgery: intraperitoneal and intrathoracic surgery, carotid endarterectomy, head & neck
surgery, orthopedic surgery, prostate surgery.
Low risk surgery: endoscopic procedures, superficial surgery, cataract surgery, breast surgery, ambulatory
surgery
Poor functional capacity = less than 4 METS
Clinical risk factors:
1) history of ischemic heart disease
2) history of compensated or prior heart failure
3) history of cerebrovascular disease
4) diabetes mellitus
5) renal insufficiency
Decision-making for testing is based upon the presence of multiple clinical risk factors, the level of functional
capacity, the risk of the surgery and the likelihood that the results of the cardiac testing would change the
management.
Evaluation of ventricular function in patients with non-ischemic myocardial disease;
Evaluation of patients in whom an accurate measure of the ejection fraction is needed to make a determination
of whether to implant a defibrillator or biventricular pacemaker;
Evaluation of a patient receiving chemotherapeutic drugs which are potentially cardiotoxic (e.g., adriamycin).
First pass studies will be considered medically necessary only when information sought is immediately relevant
to the management of the patient's clinical condition, and has not been previously obtained or likely to be
obtained from other planned tests such as echocardiography or equilibrium gated blood pool studies. First pass
studies may be indicated for the assessment and identification of shunts.
Infarct avid scintigraphy is indicated in patients in whom it is not possible to make a definitive diagnosis of
myocardial infarction by EKG or enzyme testing.
Patient selection should be based on clinical grounds:
Patients with a high pretest probability of disease are not usually candidates for a study for diagnostic purposes,
though the size and reversibility of a defect and its functional consequences may be required for clinical
decision-making.
Patients with a moderate probability of disease benefit the most from the study when the diagnosis is in
question.
Selection of tests should be made within the context of other tests, scheduled and previously performed, so that
the anticipated information obtained is unique and not redundant.
You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Cardiovascular Nuclear
Medicine (L33560).
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.