“FOR CMS (MEDICARE) MEMBERS ONLY” NATIONAL COVERAGE DETERMINATION (NCD) FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: Item/Service Description A. General Diagnostic examinations of the head (head scans) and of other parts of the body (body

Item/Service Description A. General Diagnostic examinations of the head (head scans) and of other parts of the body (body scans) performed by computerized tomography (CT) scanners are covered if medical and scientific literature and opinion support the effective use of a scan for the condition, and the scan is: (1) reasonable and necessary for the individual patient; and (2) performed on a model of CT equipment that meets the criteria in C below. CT scans have become the primary diagnostic tool for many conditions and symptoms. CT scanning used as the primary diagnostic tool can be cost effective because it can eliminate the need for a series of other tests, is non-invasive and thus virtually eliminates complications, and does not require hospitalization.