Government
Medicare plans coverage for new carotid stent
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 20, 2004
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it plans to provide Medicare coverage for participants of a large postapproval study who receive percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the carotid artery with placement of a Food and Drug Administration-approved carotid stent.
This carotid stenting system is used to treat patients who are at very high risk of stoke and cannot have surgery for their occluded carotid artery. The study is designed to yield information to help doctors target the new device to patients who are most likely to benefit from it and to develop information on clinical practices that offer the best outcomes.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/09/20/gvbf0920.htm.
