CMS Lifts National Coverage Restriction on MRI for Blood Flow Determination

(RESTON, VA) - CMS Lifts National Coverage Restriction on MRI for Blood Flow Determination

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently removed a national coverage determination to not cover MRI for blood flow measurement and instead will allow local Medicare carriers to make coverage determinations at their discretion.


In its decision summary, CMS stated the “CMS finds that the blanket noncoverage of MRI for blood flow determination at 220.2 is no longer supported by the available evidence. Therefore we will remove the phrase "blood flow measurement," from the Nationally Noncovered Indications at 220.2(C)(2) of the National Coverage Determinations Manual. Pursuant to 220.2(D), local Medicare contractors will have discretion to cover (or not cover) this use.”

SOURCE: American College of Radiology