In June 2006, the Heart Rhythm Society submitted a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting the reassessment of the physician supervision requirements for several non-invasive heart rhythm CPT codes related to the analysis, interrogation and evaluation of pacemaker and ICDs.
     Read the Society's request letter (PDF, 239K)

After review with CMS’s medical staff, the agency responded in January 2007, noting that they refused to change the physician supervision requirement for technical component of these services from direct to general supervision. The CMS decision was based on the fact that "the work and practice expense values for these heart rhythm codes comprise physician involvement, stimulation and assessment," as well as programming and reprogramming in some instances.
     Read the agency's response (PDF, 121K)

In June 2007, the Heart Rhythm Society asked CMS to reconsider their position for the technical component of the codes involving only the interrogation of pacemakers and ICDs.
     Read the Society's request letter (PDF, 160K)