A. General

The Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease (also known as the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program, the Multicenter Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program, and the Lifestyle Heart Trial Program) was initially described in the 1970s and incorporates comprehensive lifestyle modifications including exercise, a low-fat diet, smoking cessation, stress management training, and group support sessions. Over the years, the Ornish Program has been refined but continues to focus on these specific risk factors.

B. Nationally Covered Indications

Effective for claims with dates of service on and after August 12, 2010, the Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease meets the Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) program requirements set forth by Congress in §1861(eee)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act, and in regulations at 42 C.F.R. §410.49(c) and, as such, has been included on the list of approved ICR programs available at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/.

C. Nationally Non-Covered Indications

Effective August 12, 2010, if a specific ICR program is not included on the list as a Medicare- approved ICR program, it is non-covered.

D. Other

N/A

(This NCD last reviewed August 2010.)