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Medical & Coding Policies
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DESCRIPTIONAcoustic cardiography is a technique that simultaneously records the electrical and acoustical aspects of the heart. By integrating the acoustic and electric properties, acoustic cardiography is intended to enhance the diagnostic ability of simple auscultation. The information from acoustic cardiography has also been used to optimize hemodynamic parameters for device placement, particularly with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).Acoustic cardiography utilizes 3 inputs: a single electrocardiogram (EKG) lead from 2 standard electrodes, and 2 audio sensors placed at the usual V3 and V4 positions on the chest. These 3 channels synchronously record electrical and audio information. The audio information is processed using wavelet signal processing techniques and a diagnostic algorithm that filters out extraneous noise and uses time-frequency analysis to objectively define the heart sounds and the intervals between sounds. An analogue visual display of the audio data is then displayed and paired with the electrical data from the EKG recording. Output from acoustic cardiography can generate numerous parameters, some of which may have clinical applicability. Three of these measures are:
Auscultation for an S3 is part of the physical exam when evaluating for presence of heart failure. The presence of an S3 indicates systolic dysfunction and is a specific physical exam finding supporting systolic heart failure. The S3 is an indistinct sound that can be difficult to hear and is not present in all patients with systolic dysfunction. Other components of the diagnostic evaluation for heart failure include a variety of clinical symptoms and physical exam findings such as dyspnea, orthopnea, pulmonary rales, increased jugular venous pressure, and peripheral edema. Routine diagnostic evaluation for heart failure also includes measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and other common laboratory measures, and a chest x-ray. A direct measure of ejection fraction by echocardiography, nuclear medicine imaging, or other imaging modalities is a crucial component of clinical evaluation for heart failure. Systolic dysfunction can be confirmed by echocardiography and/or other imaging modalities. Optimization of CRT therapy is usually done using Doppler echocardiography. Optimization involves manipulation of the atrio-ventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) pacer settings in order to maximize left ventricular (LV) filling and stroke volume. Some evidence has reported that optimization improves overall clinical benefit, but these data are not uniform. Also, the question of whether re-optimization should be performed following initial optimization is controversial, as is the timing of re-optimization if it is performed. The Audicor™ system and electrodes received 510(k) marketing clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for “use in acquiring, analyzing and reporting EGG and heart sounds (phonocardiograph) data and to provide interpretation of the data for consideration by physicians.” A related medical policy is Biventricular Pacemakers for the Treatment of Heart Failure.
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POLICYAcoustic cardiography is considered investigational for the diagnosis of heart failure and for the optimization of CRT hemodynamic parameters.
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POLICY EXCEPTIONSFederal Employee Program (FEP) may dictate that all FDA-approved devices, drugs or biologics may not be considered investigational and thus these devices may be assessed only on the basis of their medical necessity.
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POLICY GUIDELINESInvestigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary.The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.
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POLICY HISTORY07/21/2011: Approved by Medical Policy Advisory Committee.07/17/2012: Policy reviewed; no changes.
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SOURCE(S)Blue Cross Blue Shield Association policy # 2.02.27
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CODE REFERENCENon-Covered CodesThis is not an all-inclusive list of non-covered procedure codes. All codes billed for this procedure are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage.
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