Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

 
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 state 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; 
 
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 re-
perfusion 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 
o Poor functional capacity = less than 4 METS 
o 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 
o 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 patients 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. 
 
Limitations: 
 
Special Equipment Requirements: 
 
Given the limitations of uptake, low photon energy and redistribution, the cardiac blood pool codes and 
perfusion imaging codes are not generally covered on the same date of service. However, in light of the 
predictive value of exercise-induced changes in ejection fraction, an exception will be made to allow first pass, 
single study with exercise along with the appropriate perfusion studies. Providers who bill this service must 
certify within their records that their laboratories are specially equipped to process such studies. 
 
The rapid uptake, relatively low photon energy and redistribution of thallium 201 preclude its application to 
studies for gated images in most laboratories. However, an exception will be made to allow this combination 
for laboratories that have at least double-headed cameras and the appropriate software to facilitate the count. 
Such providers must certify that their laboratories are specially equipped to process such studies. 
 
Cardiac blood pool imaging studies with appropriate add-on may be reported on a single date of service. 
 
All cardiovascular nuclear tests and stress tests must be referred by a physician or a qualified non-physician 
provider. 
 
All stress tests must be performed under the direct supervision of a physician. The nuclear test components 
must be performed under the general supervision of a physician. 
 
Myocardial perfusion studies performed based on the presence of risk factors in the absence of cardiac 
symptoms, cardiac abnormalities on physical examination, or abnormalities on cardiac testing (e.g., 
electrocardiographic tests, echocardiography, etc) will be considered screening and denied as not covered by 
Medicare. 
 
Tests that are anticipated to provide information duplicative of another test already performed will be denied as 
not medically necessary. 
 
Tests performed when the results would not be anticipated to influence medical management decisions will be denied as not medically necessary. 
 
Myocardial perfusion studies performed subsequent to a diagnostic myocardial PET scan will denied as not 
medically necessary. 
 
Infarct avid scintigraphy will be denied if the diagnosis of myocardial infarction has already been confirmed by 
enzymes and/or EKG. 
 
Tests performed unrelated to changes in a patient's signs or symptoms, or for immediate pre-operative 
evaluation will be denied as medically unnecessary. 
 
Tests performed for risk assessment prior to high risk non-cardiac surgery in asymptomatic patients within one 
year following normal catheterization or non-invasive test will be considered medically unnecessary and 
denied. 
 
Tests performed for preoperative evaluation in patients undergoing low-risk surgery will be denied. 
 
You can find this information in the Medicare Local Coverage Determination (LCD)- L33960, Cardiovascular 
Nuclear Medicine. 
 
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.