Electrical Bioimpedance for Cardiac Output Monitoring

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reviewing its national coverage decision regarding Electrical Bioimpedance for Cardiac Output Monitoring, also known as impedance cardiography and thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB).  TEB is a diagnostic method that non-invasively measures cardiac output.

In 1999, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a national coverage decision (Coverage Issues Manual 50-54) for TEB for six indications.  In 2003 CMS issued a reconsidered NCD (NCD Manual 20.16) that expanded coverage to include treatment of drug-resistant hypertension, defined as failure to achieve goal blood pressure in patients who are adhering to full doses of an appropriate three-drug regimen that includes a diuretic.

CardioDynamics, a manufacturer of TEB technology, has submitted a formal written request for another reconsideration of the 2003 reconsidered NCD to expand coverage for TEB in the treatment of hypertension, based on new evidence that was not available at the time of the first reconsideration.  Our decision may take the form of continuing the current policy, noncoverage, limiting coverage, or expanding coverage.  In the interim, the current coverage policy remains in force until a new policy decision, if any, is finalized based on our reconsideration.  A new policy would be prospective and would not call into question the legitimacy of the claims paid for under the old policy.

February 28, 2006

April 6, 2006

August 24, 2006

October 2, 2006

November 20, 2006