Interventional Cardiology Designation Now Available From CMS

January 20, 2015—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) advised that the new interventional cardiology designation approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in May 2014, became effective on January 5, 2015.

According to SCAI, interventional cardiologists now have the option of being identified by payers, including Medicare, not as general cardiologists or as internists, but as interventional cardiologists. SCAI stated that taking this step—which requires completing approximately 15 minutes-worth of paperwork—should result in fewer claims denials; fairer evaluation of resource utilization; improved evaluation of outcomes and performance; and better data with enhanced advocacy.

Details and instructions for applying to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the designation are available on SCAI’s website at http://www.scai.org/ICDesignation. Further assistance is available from SCAI’s Director of Reimbursement & Regulatory Affairs, Dawn R. Gray at dgray@SCAI.org.