Senate committee hears testimony for coverage of coronary calcium scans to boost preventive cardiac care

Senators considered testimony Jan. 28 on Senate Bill 56, which would direct the Oregon Health Authority and certain health plans to cover coronary artery calcium CT scans ordered by clinicians to assess heart-disease risk in selected patients.

Supporters, including Sen. Cedric Hayden, Sen. Chris Gorsek and Clackamas County Commissioner and OHSU cardiac nurse Phil West, said the scan is a noninvasive, 10–15 minute test that can identify coronary plaque and help clinicians and patients target preventive therapy, including lipid-lowering treatment, before costly and invasive cardiac events occur.

Why it matters: Proponents framed SB 56 as a prevention measure that could reduce downstream costs from heart attacks and hospitalizations by giving clinicians better risk…