Medicare Payments for Lower Extremity Peripheral Vascular Procedures

The use of peripheral vascular procedures in an office setting has increased among the Medicare population over the past decade. For CYs 2022 and 2023, Medicare paid approximately $1.16 billion for lower extremity peripheral vascular procedures in office settings. These minimally invasive procedures aim to improve blood flow when arteries narrow or become blocked because of peripheral arterial disease but are generally recommended only after patients have tried medical and exercise therapy and have lifestyle-limiting symptoms. In addition, CMS and whistleblower fraud investigations have identified these procedures as vulnerable to improper payments. We will analyze Medicare fee-for-service for peripheral vascular procedures for questionable characteristics and review the program integrity activities of CMS and its contractors to combat fraud, waste, and abuse specific to these procedures. Additionally, we will assess whether these procedures complied with CMS requirements and met applicable treatment guidelines.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
June 2024	Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services	Medicare Payments for Lower Extremity Peripheral Vascular Procedures	Office of Audit Services	W-00-24-35914	2025