Medicare Coverage of ICDs

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Abstract
The results of the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT), reported in this issue of the Journal (pages 225–237), show that there are likely to be expanded clinical indications for the use of an implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD) in the prevention of sudden death from cardiac causes. Medicare beneficiaries currently account for 80 percent of such deaths in the United States, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is poised to expand its ICD coverage substantially to reflect the results of this trial. Through this policy decision, CMS will also support the development of further evidence to . . .