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Health Screenings
Texas Law Now Mandates Insurance Coverage for Coronary Artery Disease(CAD) Screening:
CT Cardiac Scoring Exams
What you need to know:
A Calcium Scoring Exam can be covered every five years:
1. CT scanning measuring coronary artery calcification
Minimum Coverage Required:
1. Male age 46 to 75; or
2. Female age 56 to 75
AND
1. Is diabetic; or
2. Has an intermediate (>10%) or higher risk of developing CAD.
There are numerous online calculators that are user friendly to determine risk using the Framington Heart Study algoritham. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has developed an online calculator that only requires answers to a few simple questions:
This bill applies to a health plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, including:
1. An individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage that is offered by:
a. An insurance company;
b. A group hospital service corporation;
c. A fraternal benefit society;
d. A Lloyd's plan;
e. A stipulated premium company;
f. A health maintenance organization;
2. A health benefit plan that is offered by a multiple employer welfare arrangement.
3. A small employer health benefit plan.
4. A Medicare supplement policy as defined by the Social Security Act (42 USC Section 1395ss)
5. A health benefit plan offered by a non-profit health corporation.
It's Good to Know
That is the basic philosophy behind our preventative screening services, as well as our policies of patient education and clear communication. Health screenings are vital to preventive care, because until problems are identified, they cannot be treated. We understand the anxiety and apprehension many people feel when undergoing medical procedures, so we take special care to share information, answer any questions, and treat patients with compassion. That means you will know what to expect before your screening, and your results will be delivered as quickly as possible. We also offer convenient scheduling online or by phone, with more accommodating office hours than most imaging centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
A preventative screening includes a Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, formerly known as a CAT scan. This is a painless procedure that normally takes between five minutes and half an hour, and can accurately identify abnormalities and signs of disease that would not otherwise be visible. We provide the following preventative health screening services, which may be performed alone or in any combination:
- CT Screening - Abdomen: Used to detect unsuspected abnormalities of liver, kidney, gall bladder, or adrenal glands.
- CT Screening - Cardiac Scoring: Used to detect calcific plaque and help determine risk of coronary artery disease.
- CT Screening - Lung: Formal academic studies have documented potential value in detecting lung cancer at earlier stages, when the cancer can still be surgically removed.
- CT Screening - Pelvis: Used to detect asymptomatic, unsuspected abnormalities of bowel, ovaries, prostate gland, or bladder.
In many cases, early detection is the key to prevention, so schedule your preventative screenings as soon as possible. You will know you are doing the best thing for your health - and that always feels good.
While we are happy to work with insurance companies if coverage is extended for screening, patients should understand that many insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for these examinations. It is recommended that patients have a physician referral to schedule these tests, which will be performed without administration of intravenous or oral contrast. Results will be sent to patients as well as their doctors. As with other health screening tests, results may be inconclusive and in some cases, additional tests could be required. Southwest Diagnostic Imaging Center does not recommend such screenings as substitutes for more comprehensive exams or studies.
