CMS 24-Hour Ambulatory Esophageal pH Monitoring Form

Effective Date

06/11/1985

Last Reviewed

NA

Original Document

  Reference



Background for this Policy

Twenty-four hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is a diagnostic procedure involving the placement of an indwelling electrode into the lower esophagus of a patient for the purpose of determining the presence of gastric reflux and measuring abnormal esophageal acid exposure.

Twenty-four hour ambulatory pH monitoring is covered by Medicare for patients who are suspected of having gastric reflux, but only if the patient presents diagnostic problems associated with atypical symptoms or the patient's symptoms are suggestive of reflux, but conventional tests have not confirmed the presence of reflux.