Bracco argues for PET as preferred cardiac choice

Bracco Diagnostics sees opportunity in the latest decision by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to reimburse more for PET procedures in 2010. The final published rule maintains the assignment of all cardiac PET CPT codes to APC 0307 – PET myocardial perfusion imaging – with a 24% increase in payment for the combined radiopharmaceuticals and procedures from $1,156.87 this year to $1,432.87 next. Patient benefits, increased reimbursement, and the worldwide shortage of molybdenum-99 are compelling reasons to implement PET as the preferred choice for myocardial perfusion imaging, according to Kim Giordano, vice president of nuclear medicine at Bracco.