This free multimedia CD titled "Lipid Testing Reimbursement Update" provides information on lipid testing, National Coverage Policies for Lipids and the alignment of these National Coverage Policies with the NCEP (National Cholesterol Educational Program) recommendations for lipid testing.
The CD includes expert physician analysis, the impact of reimbursement on the lab and the changing role of direct LDL testing.
Since the late 1980’s there has been an increased emphasis on coronary heart disease risk being associated with elevated cholesterol levels. The NECP and the American Heart Association identified lowering LDL cholesterol as a primary means of reducing morbidity and mortality, and the NECP guidelines state that cholesterol response should be monitored by the direct measurement of LDL cholesterol. Currently, a direct homogeneous assay for LDL assessment makes the monitoring of LDL cholesterol possible. Now, the Medicare Coverage Policy for Lipid testing is also more aligned with NECP guidelines.
Rulemaking to establish national coverage policy for 23 groups of clinical lab tests, making up 60 percent of the total lab test volume including tests for lipids, is near completion. When these policies are fully implemented, Medicare contractors will adopt them. The coverage policies for lipids will affect lipid panel, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, direct LDL cholesterol and triglyceride testing. The new National Coverage Policy for lipid testing will reflect current medical practice.
This CD includes information from experts in the field of lipid assessment and Medicare National Coverage Policies, and is made possible with a grant from Genzyme.
Equal Diagnostics
Keyword: cholesterol, reimbursement, education
