New research has the potential to influence expanded coverage for carotid stenting.
When it comes to options for heart patients, carotid artery stenting is a procedure that can improve blood flow to the brain. Significant advances in the field of carotid stenting have been detailed in the new paper, “Carotid Stenting”.
Medicare for carotid stenting
“Carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive procedure compared with open surgery,” explains first author Christopher White, MD, Systemic President of Cardiovascular Diseases and Director of the John Ochsner Institute of Cardiology & Vascular Diseases. . “Overall, stenting and surgery are comparable in patients who are good candidates for both, and patients and their physicians should discuss which is better for each patient.”
‘The article suggests that the current CMS coverage decision regarding carotid stenting is outdated and puts Medicare patients at a disadvantage by limiting their options to less invasive treatments. more invasive, while recommending an expansion of coverage comparable to that of open surgery.’
The article analyzes several large, multicenter randomized controlled trials that include data from more than 25 years and more than 10,000 patients to demonstrate that carotid artery stenting can be as effective as surgery in preventing stroke. stroke and long-term durability.
“The current literature supports comparable outcomes for carotid stenting and carotid surgery in patients suitable for both procedures,” said White. “Some patients would not be good candidates for stenting and should receive surgery, while some patients would be poor candidates for surgery and should receive stents.”
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Current coverage is likely to be expanded in the near future to include coverage for transverse carotid stenting with carotid surgery for:
those with symptomatic carotid stenosis 50% and 99%
Patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis 70% and 99%
“We believe our multidisciplinary paper, written by neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, vascular and cardiovascular surgeons, will be an important compendium,” says White. the most recent evidence would support CMS to reimburse both processes on an equal basis.
Source: Eurekalert
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