CMS PROPOSES EXPANDED COVERAGE FOR CAROTID ARTERY STENTING

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed expanding coverage for carotid artery stenting (CAS) to more Medicare beneficiaries.

The agency's national coverage determination published Feb. 1 reflects the latest evidence on the effective use of stenting in reducing the occurrence of stroke, the agency said.

Under current CMS policy, patients with no symptoms of carotid artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries) who are at high risk for undergoing carotid endarterectomy (a surgical procedure in which the fatty buildup of plaque is removed from the carotid artery) are covered when CAS procedures are performed:

In FDA Category B investigational device exemption (IDE) trials;

In FDA-approved postapproval studies; or

In accordance with the Medicare clinical trial policy.

The CMS is proposing to expand the same coverage for CAS to patients who have greater than 80 percent carotid artery stenosis, as well as those ages 80 and older.

The decision memorandum can be viewed at www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdraftdecisionmemo.asp?id=194 (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdraftdecisionmemo.asp?id=194).