COVERAGE OF CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING BLOOD TESTS.

SEC. 612. COVERAGE OF CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING BLOOD TESTS.(a) Coverage.—Section 1861(s)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)), as amended by section 611(a), is amended—(1) in subparagraph (V)(iii), by striking “and” at the end;(2) in subparagraph (W), by inserting “and” at the end; and(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:117 STAT. 2305 “(X) cardiovascular screening blood tests (as defined in subsection (xx)(1));”.(b) Services Described.—Section 1861 (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“Cardiovascular Screening Blood Test“(xx)(1) The term ‘cardiovascular screening blood test’ means a blood test for the early detection of cardiovascular disease (or abnormalities associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease) that tests for the following:“(A) Cholesterol levels and other lipid or triglyceride levels. “(B) Such other indications associated with the presence of, or an elevated risk for, cardiovascular disease as the Secretary may approve for all individuals (or for some individuals determined by the Secretary to be at risk for cardiovascular disease), including indications measured by noninvasive testing.The Secretary may not approve an indication under subparagraph (B) for any individual unless a blood test for such is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.“(2) The Secretary shall establish standards, in consultation with appropriate organizations, regarding the frequency for each type of cardiovascular screening blood tests, except that such frequency may not be more often than once every 2 years.”.(c) Frequency.—Section 1862(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(1)), as amended by section 611(d), is amended—(1) by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (J);(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (K) and inserting “, and”; and(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:“(L) in the case of cardiovascular screening blood tests (as defined in section 1861(xx)(1)), which are performed more frequently than is covered under section 1861(xx)(2);”.(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to tests furnished on or after January 1, 2005.