Physician Medicare Coverage Update

CMS Special Edition Article SE0709: Reminder – Medicare Provides Coverage of Prostate Cancer Screening for Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries – The following special edition article posted to the CMS MLN Matters Web site on March 2, 2007.

One-Time Ultrasound Screening for AAA , CMS Contractor Provider Education Resources Listserv, dated March 7, 2007 – New in 2007 – Medicare now provides coverage for a one-time ultrasound screening for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) as part of the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) for eligible beneficiaries. Providers are invited to join with CMS in promoting awareness of AAA and the new screening benefit for the early detection of this disease. Although AAAs may be asymptomatic for years, as many as one in three eventually rupture if left untreated. Early diagnosis allows for more effective treatment and cure. Diagnosis of an AAA can be done painlessly with a simple ultrasound scan.