Medicare Reimbursement for 30-day Cardiac Monitoring

Specialties NP

Published

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

I have a Medicare patient with a heart rate of 44 with complaint of sleep apnea and some light-headedness, as well as loss of sexual performance. I am thinking that this could be tied to a further drop of his heart rate when sleeping and would like to do a 30-day cardiac monitoring. Does anyone know if Medicare will pay for this? If not, are there "affordable" options? Thanks for your input.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I'm not sure but would an overnight pulse ox show heart rate? If it does and IT is covered that might be a workaround.

If someone is braycardic and symptomatic with no obvious cause (beta blocker, etc) I'd send them to cardio for potential pacer.

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.
I'm not sure but would an overnight pulse ox show heart rate? If it does and IT is covered that might be a workaround.

If someone is braycardic and symptomatic with no obvious cause (beta blocker, etc) I'd send them to cardio for potential pacer.

This patient is quite active and the only reason I am thinking there is a connection is his sleep apnea and slower heart rate. He saw a cardiologist about a year ago and, according to the patient, is fine. I of course have requested a copy of the records. The patient just returned from a 3 week trip to Africa and did just fine. It may be "normal" for him, but I would still like to see if I can get this done. If not, I will refer him to a different cardio for work-up.

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

As an update. Patient notified me that he saw the cardiologist and is currently doing a 30-day monitor! Go figure...just glad he is being attended to properly now.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I just love some of these patients and what they say is "normal."

"My blood pressure is always 170/95! It's fine" uhhhhh....

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