Spacelabs Medical
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Coverage, billing and claims processing instructions for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for Medicare beneficiaries with suspected "white coat" hypertension recently issued to intermediaries by CMS will be effective April 1, the patient monitoring firm announces Jan. 7. Applicable health care common procedure coding system (HCPCS) codes have already been established, according to Spacelabs. CMS issued a favorable coverage decision for the treatment Oct. 17. As a result of coverage, Spacelabs anticipates $30-50 mil. in incremental revenues for its Ultralite ABPM monitor over the next five years (1"The Gray Sheet" Oct. 29, 2001, p. 23). Pricing will be set by local Medicare contractors until CMS issues a national payment amount under the physician fee schedule...