Electrocardiography Form

Summary Of Evidence

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Analysis of Evidence

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History/Background and/or General Information

For electrocardiogram (EKG) definition and coverage of EKG services as diagnostic tests, please refer to CMS IOM Publication 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations (NCD) Manual, Chapter 1, Section 20.15.

Covered Indications

Electrocardiograms are indicated for diagnosis and patient management purposes involving symptoms of the heart, pericardium, thoracic cavity, and systemic diseases which produce cardiac abnormalities.

An EKG will be considered medically reasonable and necessary in any of the following circumstances:

1. Initial diagnostic workup for a patient that presents with complaints of symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, dizziness, syncope, etc. which may suggest a cardiac origin. 
2. Evaluation of a patient on a cardiac medication for a cardiac arrhythmia or other cardiac condition which affects the electrical conduction system of the heart (e.g., inotropics such as digoxin; antiarrhythmics such as Tambocor, Procainamide, or Quinidine; and antianginals such as Cardizem, Isordil, Corgard, Procardia, Inderal and Verapamil). The EKG is necessary to evaluate the effect of the cardiac medication on the patient’s cardiac rhythm and/or conduction system. 
3. Evaluation of a patient with a pacemaker with or without clinical findings (history or physical examination) that suggest possible pacemaker malfunction. 
4. Evaluation of a patient who has a significant cardiac arrhythmia or conduction disorder in which an EKG is necessary as part of the evaluation and management of the patient. These disorders may include, but are not limited to, the following: Complete Heart Block, Second Degree AV Block, Left Bundle Branch Block, Right Bundle Branch Block, Paroxysmal VT, Atrial Fib/Flutter, Ventricular Fib/Flutter, Cardiac Arrest, Frequent PVCs, Frequent PACs, Wandering Atrial Pacemaker, and any other unspecified cardiac arrhythmia. 
5. Evaluation of a patient with known Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and/or heart muscle disease that presents with symptoms such as increasing shortness of breath (SOB), palpitations, angina, etc. 
6. Evaluation of a patient’s response to a newly established therapy for angina, palpitations, arrhythmias, SOB or other cardiopulmonary disease process. 
7. Evaluation of patients after coronary artery revascularization by Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABGs), Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angiography (PTCA), thrombolytic therapy (e.g., TPA, Streptokinase, Urokinase), and/or stent placement. 
8. Evaluation of patients presenting with symptoms of a Myocardial Infarction (MI). 
9. Evaluation of other symptomatology which may indicate a cardiac origin especially in those patients who have a history of an MI, CABG surgery or PTCA or patients who are being treated medically after a positive stress test or cardiac catheterization. 
10. Pre-operative Evaluation of the patient when: 
• undergoing cardiac surgery such as CABGs, automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator, or pacemaker, or
• the patient has a medical condition associated with a significant risk of serious cardiac arrhythmia and/or myocardial ischemia such as Diabetes, history of MI, angina pectoris, aneurysm of heart wall, chronic ischemic heart disease, pericarditis, valvular disease or cardiomyopathy to name a few. 
11. Evaluation of a patient’s response to the administration of an agent known to result in cardiac or EKG abnormalities (for patients with suspected, or at increased risk of developing, cardiovascular disease or dysfunction). Examples of these agents are antineoplastic drugs, lithium, tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressant agents. 
12. When performed as a baseline evaluation prior to the initiation of an agent known to result in cardiac or EKG abnormalities. An example of such an agent is verapamil. 

Limitations 

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 42, part 410.32, specifies that all diagnostic tests must be ordered by a provider who is the treating provider for the patient and who will use the test results in the patient’s care. Tests not ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary are not reasonable and necessary. 

As published in the CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 13, Section 13.5.4, an item or service may be covered by a contractor LCD if it is reasonable and necessary under the Social Security Act Section 1862 (a)(1)(A). Contractors shall determine and describe the circumstances under which the item or service is considered reasonable and necessary.