February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Approximately every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, yet many cases of heart disease can be prevented. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reminds healthcare professionals that Medicare provides coverage of cardiovascular screening blood tests for eligible Medicare beneficiaries. These tests can help determine a beneficiary's cholesterol and other blood-lipid levels such as triglycerides. CMS recommends that all eligible beneficiaries take advantage of this coverage, which can determine whether beneficiaries may be at risk for cardiovascular disease. Medicare Coverage - The following cardiovascular screening blood tests are covered by Medicare for eligible beneficiaries for the early detection of cardiovascular disease: § Total Cholesterol Test § Cholesterol Test for High-Density Lipoproteins § Triglycerides Test These blood tests are covered once every 5 years for people with Medicare who have no apparent signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease; the tests must be ordered by a physician or qualified non-physician practitioner (physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist) treating the beneficiary. What Can You Do? - CMS needs your help to ensure that all eligible people with Medicare take advantage of the cardiovascular screening blood tests that can help identify beneficiaries who may be at risk for cardiovascular disease. More Information - For more information about Medicare coverage of cardiovascular screening blood tests, please refer to the following resources: * Expanded Benefits brochure - This Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) brochure provides Medicare Fee-For-Service providers with an overview of the Medicare-covered cardiovascular screening blood tests as well as the "Welcome to Medicare" Visit and the ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Read at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/expanded_benefits.pdf<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/expanded_benefits.pdf>. * Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services - This chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services including the cardiovascular screening blood tests. Read at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf>. * Cardiovascular Disease Screening Webpage - This CMS webpage provides an overview of the cardiovascular screening blood tests covered by Medicare as well as information on educational resources for healthcare providers. Visit http://www.CMS.gov/CardiovasDiseaseScreening<http://www.cms.gov/CardiovasDiseaseScreening>. * The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Webpage - This webpage provides a list of MLN educational products related to Medicare-covered preventive services. These resources are specifically for Medicare Fee-For-Service providers and their staff. Visit at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp>. * Additionally, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's American Heart Month website at http://www.CDC.gov/heartdisease/american_heart_month.htm<http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/american_heart_month.htm>. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February Flu Shot Reminder It's Not too Late to Give and Get the Flu Vaccine. Take advantage of each office visit and continue to protect your patients against the seasonal flu. Medicare will continue to pay for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for all Medicare beneficiaries through the entire flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that patients, health care workers and caregivers be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get Your Flu Vaccine - Not the Flu. Remember - Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered drug. For information about Medicare's coverage of the influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please visit the following CMS websites: http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/Flu_Products.pdf and http://www.cms.gov/AdultImmunizations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to (http://www.cms.gov/prospmedicarefeesvcpmtgen/downloads/Provider_Listservs.pdf). If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
