Simple genetic tests for cardiology-related diseases are grabbing headlines this month. But they’re not necessarily seeing the dollar-signs from Medicare, yet.
On May 8,
MedStar Heart Institute announced promising research on a new test for biomarkers that can predict a patient’s risk of suffering a heart attack.
On the same day,
Aviir, a biotechnology company in Irvine, Calif., announced it will offer a comprehensive inherited cardiovascular disease genetic test menu – covering the major causes of cardiomyopathies, arrhythmia disorders and other heart and vascular-related diseases that are genetically transmittable. The tests can help physicians determine courses of treatment for patients.
Aviir’s website answered the question of Medicare coverage under
Frequently Asked Questions noting that the test is accepted by most preferred provider organizations, but the company continues to work on reimbursement strategies for HMO health insurance and Medicare plans.
This surge of cardio-related genetic tests comes less than a year after Medicare contractor Palmetto GBA approved reimbursement on a genetic test from
CardioDx for coronary artery disease – opening the door for private payers to follow the federal government’s lead.
However, the CardioDX test hit the market in 2009 – taking it almost three years to gain approval by a single Medicare contractor.