Cardiovascular Stress Testing, Including Exercise and/or Pharmacological Stress and Stress Echocardiography

Medicare covers cardiovascular stress testing (exercise or pharmacologic) and stress echocardiography when clinically indicated to evaluate for coronary artery disease, exercise-induced arrhythmias or hemodynamic changes, functional capacity, or to assess ischemia/viability—particularly when signs, symptoms, abnormal ECG, metabolic disorders, prior revascularization, or intermediate/high preoperative risk are present. Stress echocardiography and radionuclide imaging are reasonable when electrical testing is inadequate or imaging is needed, but testing that is duplicative, performed solely for screening, lifestyle motivation, to qualify for noncovered services, or when results will not affect management is not covered; documentation of medical necessity and relevant raw ECG/imaging data is required.

"Cardiovascular stress testing is covered for patients with signs or symptoms consistent with coronary artery disease (e."