Congress members oppose CMS proposed cutbacks of CCTA

Some congress members oppose proposed CCTA cutbacks from CMS. Source: GlobalSpec

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of National Electrical Manufacturers Association, is praising the 88 Members of Congress who urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its proposed national coverage decision expected to be decided on March 13 that will limit patient access to cardiac CT angiography (CCTA).

“CCTA is an extremely important medical imaging tool that detects coronary artery disease (CAD) within seconds, eliminating the need for surgery or catheterization,” said Andrew Whitman, vice president of MITA. “MITA applauds the members of Congress who recognize that CCTA has revolutionized the way doctors diagnose heart disease and who are questioning CMS’ proposed decision to eliminate CCTA coverage.”

CAD is the most common type of heart disease, and the number one killer for both men and women, according to the National Institutes of Health. Based on existing evidence and clinical analysis, CCTA has widespread acceptance as a proven technology that rules out heart disease with greater than 99 percent accuracy, while avoiding the high costs of more invasive and expensive procedures, MITA said. Also, CCTA is used in more than 2,000 centers nationwide and approved by local Medicare carriers in all 50 states.  

“CCTA has become the standard of care for cardiac disease throughout the country and the world,” Whitman said. “MITA is proud to work with members of Congress and others to ensure that patients have coverage for this important test.”