Medicare program; withdrawal of coverage of extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass surgery for the treatment or prevention of stroke--HCFA. Final notice

This notice announces the withdrawal of Medicare coverage of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) arterial bypass surgery when used to treat or prevent ischemic cerebrovascular disease of the carotid or middle cerebral arteries. Available evidence does not show that this surgery is effective.