Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: ACR Advocates for Medicare Screening Benefit
The American College of Radiology is urging Congress to pass legislation that would provide high-risk Medicare beneficiaries with a new ultrasound screening benefit for detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The ACR has taken this action in an effort to significantly reduce the number of lives claimed by ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Though a highly treatable condition, such aneurysms are the 13th leading cause of death in the United States, killing at least 15,000 each year according to reports from the Mayo Clinic. Deaths from ruptured aortic aneurysms in this country outpace deaths from AIDS and many forms of cancer.
Although Medicare does not reimburse physicians for screening sonography for abdominal aortic aneurysms, the condition was spotlighted by Congress in its recently enacted Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act. In addition to noting the lethal nature of the disease, the reform bill's Conference Report addresses the importance of ultrasound screening for effective diagnosis and treatment. The report also encourages the US Preventive Services Task Force to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms with the eventual goal of making a recommendation to the US Department of Health and Human Services on Medicare coverage for this test.
The ACR believes the Conference Report language regarding screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms that accompanies the Medicare reform bill represents a good first step; however, further congressional action is necessary to create an expanded Medicare screening benefit. The College will work with other medical and patient groups to lobby Congress on the need for this new benefit for seniors and will coordinate efforts with its RADPAC contribution strategy.