A new Medicare item number comes into effect this month for the insertion of a durable left ventricular assist device for patients with refractory heart failure who are not eligible for transplant.

The new item will subsidise the insertion of an LVAD capable of providing circulatory support for at least six months as destination therapy for patients with heart failure despite optimal medical management including device use. It is to be used in patients not expected to be a suitable candidate for cardiac transplant.

They must have a INTERMACS profile of 1, 2, 3 or 4 to be eligible.

The Medical Services Advisory Committee supported the new listing in November 2024, finding after its review that the use of an LVAD was superior to the current standard of optimal medical management for this patient population.

“MSAC considered that LVAD for destination therapy would address a clinical need in this well-defined patient population with poor prognosis and accepted that LVAD for destination therapy was good value for money,” the committee said in its public summary document.

The item number, 38620, begins on March 1 and carries a benefit fee of $1,787.15.

Meanwhile, item numbers for electrocardiograms have been amended from this month.

Item number 11707, for a 12-lead ECG, trace only, has been amended to be a precursor to 11705, meaning the trace is provided to a specialist for a formal report.

Item 11714, for a 12-lead ECG and clinical note, will also be made available for GPs to claim on behalf of their patients.

Read the full list of Medicare Benefits Schedule changes for March here.