PET Scans As Cancer Diagnostic Tool – CMS Says OK now without the additional reporting information

This should stand to offer a bit of relief with the administration end of the procedures and other types such as skin cancer are now included. BD

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final national coverage determination (NCD) to expand coverage for initial testing with positron emission tomography (PET) for Medicare beneficiaries who are diagnosed with and treated for most solid tumor cancers.
This NCD removes a clinical study requirement for PET scan use in these patients.

This decision applies to PET scans used to support initial diagnosis and treatment for most types of solid tumor cancers. It also expands coverage of PET scans for subsequent follow up testing in beneficiaries who have cervical or ovarian cancer, or who are being treated for myeloma, a cancer that affects white blood cells. For these cancers, NOPR data collection will no longer be required.

Medicare Expands Coverage Of PET Scans As Cancer Diagnostic Tool