New codes for these technologies have made a world of difference for clinicians. Reimbursement for the use of AI is an area where cardiology is far ahead of most other healthcare specialties.
The law reflects growing interest in using existing imaging studies to identify cardiovascular disease risk without requiring additional scans, radiation exposure or costs.
"We really should have a system that is patient-centric, physician-led, and professionally managed, but in a cost-effective way," Rick Snyder, MD, said.
MRI scans have traditionally been used for extracellular volume assessments. That is starting to change, however, as cardiac CT moves beyond its typical focus on the coronary arteries.
Former SCCT president Ed Nicol, MD, knows there has been interest in the potential of automated CT exams. However, he isn't so sure they are possible at this point in time for a number of reasons.
The registry has collected more than 1.6 million patient records from more than 800 hospitals. "We can do even better," one cardiologist said. "We have to treat heart failure with everything we've got."
