B. Nationally Covered Indications
The PTA is covered to treat the following indications:
1. Atherosclerotic obstructive lesions:
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.
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.
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. The PTA for this group of patients is an alternative to surgery, not simply an addition to medical management.
Of arteriovenous dialysis fistulas and grafts when performed through either a venous or arterial approach.
2. Effective July 1, 2001, Medicare covers PTA of the carotid artery concurrent with carotid stent placement when furnished in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved protocols governing Category B Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trials. The PTA of the carotid artery, when provided solely for the purpose of carotid artery dilation concurrent with carotid stent placement, is considered to be a reasonable and necessary service only when provided in the context of such a clinical trial.
3. Effective October 12, 2004, Medicare covers PTA of the carotid artery concurrent with the placement of an FDA-approved carotid stent for an FDA-approved indication when furnished in accordance with FDA-approved protocols governing post-approval studies. CMS determines that coverage of PTA of the carotid artery is reasonable and necessary under these circumstances.
4. 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 carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and who also have symptomatic carotid artery stenosis ≥ 70%. Coverage is limited to procedures performed using FDA-approved carotid artery stenting systems and embolic protection devices;
- 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 Determinations Manual (NCD), 310.1), or in accordance with the NCD on carotid artery stenting (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).
Patients at high risk for CEA are defined as having significant comorbidities and/or anatomic risk factors (i.e., recurrent stenosis and/or previous radical neck dissection), and would be poor candidates for CEA in the opinion of a surgeon.
Significant comorbid conditions include but are not limited to:
- congestive heart failure (CHF) class III/IV;
- left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <30%;
- unstable angina;
- contralateral carotid occlusion;
- recent myocardial infarction (MI);
- previous CEA with recurrent stenosis;
- prior radiation treatment to the neck; and
- other conditions that were used to determine patients at high risk for CEA in the prior CAS trials and studies, such as ARCHER, CABERNET, SAPPHIRE, BEACH, and MAVERIC II.
Symptoms of carotid artery stenosis include carotid transient ischemic attack (distinct focal neurologic dysfunction persisting less than 24 hours), focal cerebral ischemia producing a nondisabling stroke (modified Rankin scale <3 with symptoms for 24 hours or more),1 and transient monocular blindness (amaurosis fugax). Patients who have had a disabling stroke (modified Rankin scale ≥ 3) would be excluded from coverage.
The determination that a patient is at high risk for CEA and the patient’s symptoms of carotid artery stenosis should be available in the patient medical records prior to performing any procedure.
The degree of carotid artery stenosis should be measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound or carotid artery angiography and recorded in the patient medical records. If the stenosis is measured by ultrasound prior to the procedure, then the degree of stenosis must be confirmed by angiography at the start of the procedure. If the stenosis is determined to be less than 70% by angiography, then CAS should not proceed.
In addition, CMS determines that CAS with embolic protection is reasonable and necessary only if performed in facilities that have been determined to be competent in performing the evaluation, procedure, and follow-up necessary to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Standards to determine competency will include specific physician training standards, facility support requirements, and data collection to evaluate outcomes during a required reevaluation.
The CMS created a list of minimum standards modeled in part on professional society statements on competency. All facilities must at least meet CMS’s standards in order to receive coverage for CAS for high risk patients.
- Facilities must have necessary imaging equipment, device inventory, staffing, and infrastructure to support a dedicated carotid stent program. Specifically, high-quality X-ray imaging equipment is a critical component of any carotid interventional suite, such as high resolution digital imaging systems with the capability of subtraction, magnification, road mapping, and orthogonal angulation.
- Advanced physiologic monitoring must be available in the interventional suite. This includes real time and archived physiologic, hemodynamic, and cardiac rhythm monitoring equipment, as well as support staff who are capable of interpreting the findings and responding appropriately.
- Emergency management equipment and systems must be readily available in the interventional suite such as resuscitation equipment, a defibrillator, vasoactive and antiarrhythmic drugs, endotracheal intubation capability, and anesthesia support.
- Each institution should have a clearly delineated program for granting carotid stent privileges and for monitoring the quality of the individual interventionalists and the program as a whole. The oversight committee for this program should be empowered to identify the minimum case volume for an operator to maintain privileges, as well as the (risk-adjusted) threshold for complications that the institution will allow before suspending privileges or instituting measures for remediation. Committees are encouraged to apply published standards from national specialty societies recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to determine appropriate physician qualifications. Examples of standards and clinical competence guidelines include those published in the December 2004 edition of the American Journal of Neuroradiology, and those published in the August 18, 2004, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
- To continue to receive Medicare payment for CAS under this decision, the facility or a contractor to the facility must collect data on all CAS procedures done at that particular facility. This data must be analyzed routinely to ensure patient safety, and will also be used in the process of re-credentialing the facility. This data must be made available to CMS upon request. The interval for data analysis will be determined by the facility but should not be less frequent than every 6 months.
Since there currently is no recognized entity that evaluates CAS facilities, CMS established a mechanism for evaluating facilities. Facilities must provide written documentation to CMS that the facility meets one of the following:
- The facility was an FDA-approved site that enrolled patients in prior CAS IDE trials, such as SAPPHIRE, and ARCHER;
- The facility is an FDA-approved site that is participating and enrolling patients in ongoing CAS IDE trials, such as CREST;
- The facility is an FDA-approved site for one or more FDA post-approval studies; or,
- The facility has provided a written affidavit to CMS attesting that the facility has met the minimum facility standards. This should be sent to:
Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop C1-09-06
Baltimore, MD 21244.
The letter must include the following information:
Facility's name and complete address;
Facility's Medicare provider number;
Point-of-contact for questions with telephone number;
Mechanism of data collection of CAS procedures; and,
Signature of a senior facility administrative official.
A list of approved facilities will be made available and viewable at http://www.cms.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/CASF/list.asp. In addition, CMS will publish a list of approved facilities in the "Federal Register". A new affidavit is required every two years to ensure that facilities maintain high standards.
5. Effective November 6, 2006, Medicare covers PTA and stenting of intracranial arteries for the treatment of cerebral artery stenosis ≥50% in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease when furnished in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved protocols governing Category B Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trials. CMS determines that coverage of intracranial PTA and stenting is reasonable and necessary under these circumstances.
C. Nationally Noncovered Indications
All other indications for PTA with or without stenting to treat obstructive lesions of the vertebral and cerebral arteries remains noncovered. The safety and efficacy of these procedures are not established.
D. Other
All other indications for PTA for which CMS has not specifically indicated coverage remain noncovered.
(This NCD last reviewed November 2006.)
