Clinical utility of ambulatory blood pressure: perspectives for national insurance coverage

During 2001, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, formally known as HCFA) independently evaluated the US national insurance coverage policy for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Diagnostic uses evaluated included screening for white-coat hypertension, assessment for possible antihypertensive drug resistance, evaluation of hypotensive symptoms, episodic hypertension, and autonomic dysfunction. In their analysis, the committee presented and analyzed the relevant scientific and clinical literature on the use of ABPM in certain patient populations and delineated the reason for a limited national coverage decision for patients with suspected white-coat hypertension.