Five cardiology and one radiology advocacy groups have called on Elevance Health to review its latest coverage guidelines for the treatment of varicose veins.
The insurer’s guidelines, published April 16, categorize the use of endovenous cyanoacrylate closure during varicose vein treatment as not medically necessary and therefore not covered through Elevance Health plans.
The American Venous Forum, American College of Cardiology, American Vein & Lymphatic Society, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Surgery requested an off-cycle review of the guidelines in a June 4 letter to Elevance Health.
“The safety and efficacy of CAC have been well established through more than a decade of peer-reviewed research and clinical experience,” the organizations wrote. “It is the unanimous opinion of our six societies that CAC is a ‘generally accepted standard of medical
practice’ and is in accordance with those standards.”
In a June 20 news release, the Society of Interventional Radiology said the organizations were preparing to meet with Elevance Health’s medical director to “have a clinically focused conversation on this issue.”
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