HIGHMARK COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POLICY - PENNSYLVANIA

 
 

Medical Policy:
M-81-007
Topic:
Implantable Pulmonary Artery Pressure Measurement Device
Section:
Diagnostic Medical
Effective Date:
August 23, 2021
Issued Date:
August 23, 2021
Last Revision Date:
July 2021
Annual Review:
July 2021
 
 

The CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure (HF) System is a wireless pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure monitoring system. It measures PA pressures from a battery free sensor in the distal pulmonary artery. An electronic system transmits the generated data to a secure network where it is available for the interpretation by the treating physician.

Policy Position

The CardioMEMS™ HF System may be considered medically necessary for individuals that meet ALL of the following indications:

  • Diagnosis of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III HF symptoms predominantly present over the previous months, despite maximally tolerated guideline directed medical and device therapies; and
  • At least one (1) HF related hospitalization within the previous 12 months; and
  • Able to take dual antiplatelet or anticoagulants for one (1) month post-implant; and
  • Greater than or equal to 18 years of age; and
  • Diagnosis of HF greater than or equal to three (3) months, with either preserved or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction; and
  • PA branch diameter sized between seven (7) mm and 15 mm; and
  • Body mass index (BMI) of less than or equal to 35; or 
  • If BMI is greater than 35, a measurement of chest circumference at axillary level is required.  If the chest circumference is greater than 165 cm, the sensor should not be implanted due to poor signal strength. 

 Monitoring must occur at least once weekly in all individuals implanted with CardioMEMS™. Weekly monitoring is acceptable as long as the individual maintains acceptable PA pressure (opti-volemic).


If PA pressure is not opti-volemic:

  • Monitoring must occur at least two (2) - three (3) times per week until opti-volemic in cases where the individual has elevated PA pressure (hyper-volemic) or low PA pressure (hypo-volemic); and
  • Monitoring must occur at least two (2) - three (3) times per week until pressure stabilizes in cases where the individual receives medication modifications or exhibits significant deviations in trend data.

Implantable PA pressure monitoring not meeting the criteria as indicated in this policy is considered experimental/investigational and therefore, non-covered because the safety and/or effectiveness of this service cannot be established by the available published peer-reviewed literature.

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NOTE: Recommendation per FDA label.



Related Policies

Refer to Medical Policy, M-54, Ambulatory and Outpatient Cardiac Hemodynamic Monitoring of Heart Failure, for additional information.


Professional Statements and Societal Positions Guidelines

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-2018

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated their guidelines on chronic heart failure management and did not include outpatient hemodynamic monitoring as a recommendation. 

In 2013, the Institute issued guidance on the insertion and use of implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitors in chronic heart failure. The recommendations concluded that "Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of the insertion and use of implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitors in chronic heart failure is limited in both quality and quantity."

Heart Failure Society of America-2018

The Heart Failure Society of America Scientific Statements Committee (2018) published a white paper consensus statement on remote monitoring of patients with heart failure.

The committee concluded that: "Based on available evidence, routine use of external RPM devices is not recommended. Implanted devices that monitor pulmonary arterial pressure and/or other parameters may be beneficial in selected patients or when used in structured programs, but the value of these devices in routine care requires further study."

American College of Cardiology et al-2017

The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Failure Society of America issued joint guidelines on the management of heart failure that offered no recommendations for the use of ambulatory monitoring devices.


Place of Service: Inpatient/Outpatient

Experimental/Investigational (E/I) services are not covered regardless of place of service.

Experimental/Investigational (E/I) services are not covered regardless of place of service.

Implantable pulmonary artery pressure measurement devices are typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.

Implantable pulmonary artery pressure measurement device is typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.


The policy position applies to all commercial lines of business



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This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical or other circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records, as well as other regulatory, contractual and/or legal requirements.

Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect Highmark's reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract, and subject to the applicable laws of your state.


Highmark retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: 
    • Qualified sign language interpreters
    • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: 
    • Qualified interpreters
    • Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator. 

If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you. 

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
200 Independence Avenue, SW 
Room 509F, HHH Building 
Washington, D.C. 20201 
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) 

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. 

Insurance or benefit/claims administration may be provided by Highmark, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark Health Insurance Company, First Priority Life Insurance Company, First Priority Health, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Select Resources, Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Senior Health Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. 





Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  • Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages
  • If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator.

    If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295 , TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.

    You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    200 Independence Avenue, SW
    Room 509F, HHH Building
    Washington, D.C. 20201
    1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

    Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.