How are Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms diagnosed?
Diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is typically made via a screening ultrasound examination, although CT scans of the abdomen obtained for other reasons are another common avenue whereby aneurysms are detected. Medicare now provides coverage for qualified seniors to check for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Men who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their life, and men and women with a family history of AAA qualify for the one-time ultrasound screening. Enrollees must visit their healthcare professional for their Welcome to Medicare physical within six months of enrolment in order to qualify for the free screening. The Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam must be completed within the first six months of Medicare eligibility, but there is no published time limit thereafter for completion of the AAA screening. Providers who perform the physical examination and order the AAA screening need to document the AAA risk factors.
