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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 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is covered when used under the following 
conditions: 
 
1. Treatment of atherosclerotic obstructive lesions 
 
a. In the lower extremities, i.e., the iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries, or in the upper extremities, i.e., the 
innominate, subclavian, axillary, and brachial arteries. The upper extremities do not include head or neck 
vessels. 
b. Of a single coronary artery for patients for whom the likely alternative treatment is coronary bypass surgery 
and who exhibit the following characteristics: 
 
-Angina refractory to optimal medical management; 
-Objective evidence of myocardial ischemia; and 
-Lesions amenable to angioplasty. 
 
c. Of the renal arteries for patients in whom there is an inadequate response to a thorough medical management 
of symptoms and for whom surgery is the likely alternative. PTA for this group of patients is an alternative to 
surgery, not simply an addition to medical management. 
d. Of arteriovenous dialysis fistulas and grafts when performed through either a venous or arterial approach. 
 
2. Concurrent with carotid stent placement in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - approved Category B 
Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trials 
3. Concurrent with Carotid Stent Placement in FDA-Approved Post Approval Studies 
4. Concurrent with Carotid Stent Placement in Patients at High Risk for Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) 
 
Effective March 17, 2005, Medicare covers PTA of the carotid artery concurrent with the placement of an 
FDA-approved carotid stent with embolic protection for the following: 
 
-Patients who are at high risk for CEA and who also have symptomatic carotid artery stenosis = 70%. Coverage 
is limited to procedures performed using FDA-approved carotid artery stenting (CAS) systems and FDA-
approved or -cleared (effective December 9, 2009) embolic protection devices. If deployment of the embolic 
protection device is not technically possible, and not performed, then the procedure is not covered by Medicare 
(effective December 9, 2009); -Patients who are at high risk for CEA and have symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between 50% and 70%, in 
accordance with the Category B IDE clinical trials regulation (42 CFR 405.201), as a routine cost under the 
clinical trials policy (Medicare National Coverage Determination (NCD) Manual 310.1 ), or in accordance with 
the NCD on (CAS) post-approval studies (Medicare NCD Manual 20.7 ); 
-Patients who are at high risk for CEA and have asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis = 80%, in accordance 
with the Category B IDE clinical trials regulation (42 CFR 405.201), as a routine cost under the clinical trials 
policy (Medicare NCD Manual 310.1 ), or in accordance with the NCD on CAS post- approval studies 
(Medicare NCD Manual 20.7 ). 
 
You can find this rule in the National Coverage Determination (NCD) - Percutaneous Transluminal 
Angioplasty (20.7) - Effective March 1, 2013. 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com. 
 
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules.