Heart Scan Bill Passed in Lone-Star State
Texas Governor Rick Perry signed off on a Texas Heart Attack Prevention Bill just last Friday, giving the industry a necessary boost in confidence and hopefully revenue. The initiative will mandate healthcare benefits and coverage for patients seeking out prevention screenings. Many cardiologists claim that early detection is key to preventing heart attacks and heart disease, which is why this bill is being praised a huge step forward for the heart scan industry.
The details of the legislation have been highlighted in TheHeart.org,
"The final wording of Act HB1290 stipulates that health-benefit providers cover the cost of CT coronary-artery-calcium (CAC) scans and carotid ultrasonography in men between the ages of 45 and 76 and women between the ages of 55 and 76, as well as anyone (at any age) who has diabetes or is deemed to be at intermediate risk or higher for developing CAD, as determined by the Framingham risk score. With the governor's blessing, the act is now poised to go into effect September 1, 2009."
In recent months there has been much opposition against virtual scanning methods. Medicare backed out of covering virtual colonoscopies and heart scans came under scrutiny as well. This will hopefully raise awareness for prevention and offer Texans a financial means to afford such procedures.
