LCD/NCD Portal

NCD100.3  24-HOUR AMBULATORY ESOPHAGEAL PH MONITORING

 

 

Effective Date of this Version

6/11/1985

 

Benefit Category

 

• Diagnostic Tests (other).

• Note: This may not be an exhaustive list of all applicable Medicare benefit categories for this item or service.

 

 

Item/Service Description

 

• Twenty-four hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is a diagnostic procedure involving the placement of an indwelling electrode into the lower esophagus of a patient for the purpose of determining the presence of gastric reflux and measuring abnormal esophageal acid exposure.

 

 

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

 

• Twenty-four hour ambulatory pH monitoring is covered by Medicare for patients who are suspected of having gastric reflux, but only if the patient presents diagnostic problems associated with atypical symptoms or the patient's symptoms are suggestive of reflux, but conventional tests have not confirmed the presence of reflux.

 

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