On Wednesday the federal government overturned an earlier decision taken in December last year. Representatives announced that it would still include a common heart disease detecting procedure in its medical coverage.

Medicare and Medicaid said that they would keep on covering this scanning procedure, although doubts have been expressed regarding inclusion of this type of test under Medicare. The fees for the procedure - about $600 - would be covered by local insurance providers.

Dr. Barry Straube, Chief Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that the evidence in favour of or against the decision is not conclusive so the agency is to continue to let local insurance carriers cover the tests.

About $50 million worth of heart scans were covered by Medicare in 2006. Many more scans are being done privately. The use of these scans is likely to increase, say private carriers who usually do as Medicare does.

The scans in question are non-invasive, unlike expensive angiography. But are they being used more than necessary, risking radiation effects on patients? Dr. Mark Grant believes that the scans have not been properly tested and studied. Dr. Constantino S. Peña, the director of vascular imaging at the Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute in Miami, thinks it’s a good idea, though, and Dr. Dr. Daniel S. Berman, president-elect of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, feels there will soon be more proof of the scan’s effectiveness.

Medicare’s support for these kinds of decisions is what fuels studies on tests. Dr. Tunis says that the agency still feels that things have to be clarified. He and his colleagues are working with insurers and manufacturers to see whether the scan is a better option than tests currently being used, and would really benefit patients.

Only time will tell…

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