Echocardiography

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are covered for a wide range of cardiac diagnostic and monitoring uses when findings are expected to influence management; routine screening or use with inadequate equipment is not covered. Specific frequency limits include generally annual routine follow-up (unless acute change), cardiotoxic-exposure monitoring baseline and bimonthly during therapy with a 6-month post assessment, and intensive early post-transplant surveillance (weekly ×4–8 weeks, then ~2/year). Stress ECHO requires digitized imaging and direct physician supervision and pharmacologic stress agents have defined contraindications (dipyridamole, adenosine, dobutamine) that must be observed.

"Contrast echocardiography is covered to evaluate myocardial ischemia, quantify myocardial perfusion during stress, identify the area at risk during acute myocardial infarction, determine success of..."