Aetna announced, Thursday, Aug. 16, it will expand its coverage of the PET tracer gallium-68 (Ga-68) dotatate, according to a Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) release. The radiopharmaceutical is now considered “medically necessary.”
The move comes after an April push from SNMMI in the form of two letters sent to Aetna recommending it alter coverage and include PET imaging agents dotatate and fluciclovine.
"This [clinical policy bulletin] CPB is revised to state that gallium Ga 68 dotatate PET (NETSPOT) is considered medically necessary for diagnosis, staging and restaging of persons with primary and metastatic neuroendocrine tumors bearing somatostatin receptors when criteria are met," the revised CPB reads.
The updated CPB can be found here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.