Coverage Policies

 Effective Date:

a)    This policy will apply to all services performed on or after the above revision date which will become the new effective date.

b)    For all services referred to in this policy that were performed before the revision date, contact customer service for the rules that would apply.

1. Syncope or near-syncope can be caused by a wide variety of disorders.  Most syncopal episodes can be easily classified, and specific testing can be carried out, if required.  For syncope of uncertain origin, in which neurocardiogenic causes is suspected, tilt table testing can be helpful. 
2. This testing is considered medically necessary and is covered in such cases.
3. Covered once every 12-month period.

Tilt table evaluation is considered medically necessary and is covered for the evaluation of recurrent syncopal episodes with a suspected neurocardiogenic origin. 

Codes Used In This BI:

93660 Evaluation of cardiovascular function with tilt table evaluation, with continuous ECG monitoring and intermittent blood pressure monitoring, with or without    pharmacological intervention

1. Tilt table testing is considered experimental and investigational for all other indications, including any of the following (not an all inclusive list) because there is little support in the peer-reviewed medical literature for tilt table testing for these indications:

·         Determining the effectiveness of medications in treating recurrent unexplained syncope; or

·         Differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes (e.g., Parkinson`s disease, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy); or

·         Guiding surgical decision-making as well as predicting the clinical response to surgical decompression of Chiari type I-malformation (Chiari drop attacks); or

·         Identifying members with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or evaluating treatment effectiveness of this condition.

Syncope and pre-syncope are commonly classified as being of either cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular origin. Cardiovascular mechanisms incorporate mechanisms resulting from structural cardiac and/or vascular disease as well as a diverse group of neurally mediated reflex (cardio-neurogenic) syncopal syndromes.  The non-cardiovascular mechanisms encompass organic central nervous system disease, metabolic/endocrine disturbances, and psychiatric disorders.

Among all causes of syncope, however, the neurally mediated reflex syncopal syndromes are believed to be the most common, although only `emotional` or `vasovagal` faint occurs frequently.  Until recently, the diagnosis of neurally mediated reflect syncope has relied primarily on suspicions raised in the medical history in conjunction with the exclusion of other etiologies by application of a variety of medical tests.  Head-up tilt table testing has substantially changed this picture.

Currently it is believed that the development of hypotension and bradycardia in conjunction with sustained upright posture is at least in part comparable to the mechanisms triggered by afferent neural signals from central cardiopulmonary mechanoreceptors that occur during the `emotional` faint. Consequently, there has been considerable interest in the clinical application of head-up tilt testing as a means of assessing susceptibility to neurally mediated reflex syncopal syndromes.

The American College of Cardiology published a consensus statement on tilt table testing that concluded that such testing had a valuable role in the clinical evaluation of patients with syncope of uncertain origin.   In addition, the European Society of Cardiology Task Force on Syncope guidelines state that tilt table testing is indicated for diagnostic purposes with certain specific indications.   A guideline on the diagnosis of syncope of the American College of Physicians’ Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project also recommends tilt-table testing.   However, none of the guidelines states that tilt-table testing can obviate a thorough cardiac work-up if a cardiac cause of syncope is possible. Nor do they identify any specific clinical decision that is altered by the use of the tilt-table test. The guidelines do not address any differences in treatment approach between patients diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope based on clinical symptoms alone, based on tilt table testing, or arrived at by exclusion of other possible causes.

2 randomized clinical trials evaluating dual-chamber pacemakers as a treatment for neurocardiogenic syncope in patients with refractory syncope have been published. The entry criteria for these clinical trials required that the patient have a cardioinhibitory or bradycardic response as assessed by tilt table testing.  This criterion exists because the scientific rationale for this treatment is that the pacemaker corrects the slow heart rhythm that is presumably the cause of the syncope in this subset of patients.

In the North American Vasovagal Pacemaker Study, 54 patients were evenly randomized to receive a pacemaker or no pacemaker.   The trial was terminated early because of a strong effect observed in favor of pacing. Recurrent syncope occurred in 19/27 (70%) of no-pacemaker patients and in 6/27 (22%) of pacemaker patients. The relative risk reduction, as calculated through survival analysis, was 85.4%.

In another study of pacemakers by Sutton and co-workers, 42 patients were randomized to receive pacemaker or no pacemaker.  One of 19 (5%) of patients in the pacemaker group experienced recurrent syncope, compared with 14/23 (61%) of patients in the no-pacemaker group.

Several concerns have been expressed about the results of these clinical trials of pacemaker therapy, such as the lack of a sham control, a no-treatment control group (as opposed to an active no-pacemaker control group), the small sample sizes, and the highly select nature of the populations studied. With respect to tilt-table testing, concern has been expressed as to whether the cardioinhibitory response elicited on a tilt-table test corresponds to the cardioinhibitory response of the syncopal episode.

Evidence is lacking as to whether cardiac pacing is effective among patients with other types of tilt table test responses or among patients with negative tilt-table tests. Thus, it is unknown whether the tilt-table test is actually a necessary component of the selection criteria for a pacemaker. However, given the invasiveness and complexity of pacemaker treatment for syncope, it would be reasonable to incorporate the screening criteria used in the clinical trials reviewed above. Thus, for patients whose frequency, severity, and refractoriness to treatment merit consideration for pacemaker therapy, tilt-table testing to evaluate cardioinhibitory response may be considered medically necessary.

While vasovagal syncope was previously thought to be confined to younger patients, it is now being diagnosed more frequently in the elderly.  Head up tilt testing has substantially contributed to our understanding of the pathophysiology of vasovagal syncope.  Nitroglycerin is now routinely administered during the test.  People with typical symptoms do not need tilt testing, but the test is often required in patients with atypical features, seizure activity, and in those with occupational issues.  It is more often needed in older patients. (Tan, 2009).  Carew et al reported that a 10 minute tilt test is inadequate to differentiate postural tachycardia syndrome from vasovagal syncope (Carew, 2009).  An Indian survey indicated that a lack of standardization of testing in children has caused pediatric electrophysiologists to use the tilt test progressively less often (Batra, 2008).

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