ABI with Exercise – Improved PAD Diagnosis
ABI with Exercise improves ABI diagnosis
Sometimes a resting ABI is not sufficient to diagnose PAD.
- Patients with intermittent claudication, a typical symptom, will have a normal resting ABI over 30% of the time
- Reimbursement on ABI with Exercise is 52% higher than resting ABI ($140 vs. $92)
- ABI with Exercise is a unique exam to Newman Medical
- Medicare will also now pay for Supervised Exercise Therapy (SET) – $53/session, 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks ($1908)
ABI WITH EXERCISE IMPROVES CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS
Clinical studies have shown that over 30% of patients with a normal resting ABI have an abnormal ABI following exercise. When the ABI is normal at rest in patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication, exercise testing is recommended to enhance the sensitivity for detection of PAD.
ABI WITH EXERCISE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT
In addition to providing additional clinical information, reimbursement for the exercise test is 55% to 93% higher than that for resting ABIs.
- CPT 93923 – SINGLE LEVEL STUDY WITH PROVOCATIVE FUNCTIONAL MANEUVERS (EG, MEASUREMENTS WITH POSTURAL PROVOCATIVE TESTS, OR MEASUREMENT WITH REACTIVE HYPEREMIA).
- National Medicare reimbursement for 2018 is about $140 USD.
HOW IS THE ABI WITH EXERCISE PERFORMED?
The ABI with Exercise test consists of performing a resting ABI, exercising the patient, performing another ABI immediately after the exercise, and then comparing the pre and post exercise ABI values. If there is a stenosis in the artery the increased flow from the exercise will cause the distal pressure to drop
significantly more than during rest, thus lowering the ABI.
- Perform a resting ABI
- Ask the patient to perform toe raises (also called heel raises)
- A standard protocol is: heel raising exercises are carried out to a maximum height achievable by a patient at a maximum speed possible for 30 seconds. Heel raising exercises produce changes in ankle pressure that correlate well with treadmill exercise.
- Perform a 2nd ABI immediately following exercise
- Compare ABI Results
UNIQUE TO NEWMAN MEDICAL
Newman Medical, a leading designer and manufacturer of diagnostic products and accessories for the medical industry, is pleased to announce that it has released an ABI with Exercise study to help physicians evaluate and diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). While PAD effects more than 20 percent of adults over the age of 65, it remains an under diagnosed and under treated disease since many patients with PAD are asymptomatic. If untreated, one in four patients with PAD will suffer a heart attack, stroke, amputation, or death within five years.
“Our new and unique ABI with Exercise Study is an unparalleled clinical diagnostic tool,” said Spencer Newman, Founder and President of Newman Medical. “From a single page report, a clinician can assess pre and post-exercise PAD results. This simple test improves the diagnostic assessment of PAD by helping to identify moderate PAD in patients that might otherwise not show up in a resting ABI. This test can save hundreds of patients’ legs each year and help prevent significant consequences associated with undiagnosed PAD. Our simpleABI Systems are designed for physicians in a variety of specialties, including cardiologists, interventional radiologists, podiatrists, internists, and primary care physicians. We understand that many physicians have overloaded patient schedules, which is precisely why we designed our testing to be quick, accurate, and cost effective.”
About Newman Medical simpleABI systems
Newman Medical’s portable simpleABI Systems perform a myriad of tests to quickly and accurately diagnose PAD. With over 40 years in vascular diagnosis, Newman Medical constantly strives to provide equipment that meets current testing methods and testing requirements. The diagnostic systems includes all of the necessary testing equipment and produce detailed reports on-site that include information necessary for reimbursement. simpleABI Systems include an option to be connected to PACS systems via DICOM reporting or configured to communicate via HL7 to EMR/EHR systems.
About Newman Medical
Newman Medical, headquartered in Arvada, Colorado, is a leading designer and manufacturer of diagnostic products and accessories for the medical industry. Founded by the Newman Family in 2005, Newman Medical specializes in vascular systems, Dopplers, and vascular cuffs. All Newman Medical products are made in the U.S. and sold and distributed domestically and internationally.