CMS Pub. 100-03, ch. 1, § 20.31.2

August 12, 2010)

(Rev. 125, Issued: 09-24-10, Effective: 08-12-10, Implementation: 10-25-10)

A. General

The Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease (also known as the Multisite Cardiac

Lifestyle Intervention Program, the Multicenter Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program,

and the Lifestyle Heart Trial Program) was initially described in the 1970s and

incorporates comprehensive lifestyle modifications including exercise, a low-fat diet,

smoking cessation, stress management training, and group support sessions. Over the

years, the Ornish Program has been refined but continues to focus on these specific risk

factors.

B. Nationally Covered Indications

Effective for claims with dates of service on and after August 12, 2010, the Ornish

Program for Reversing Heart Disease meets the Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR)

program requirements set forth by Congress in §1861(eee)(4)(A) of the Social Security

Act, and in regulations at 42 C.F.R. §410.49(c) and, as such, has been included on the list

of approved ICR programs available at http://www.cms.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/.

C. Nationally Non-Covered Indications

Effective August 12, 2010, if a specific ICR program is not included on the list as a

Medicare- approved ICR program, it is non-covered.

D. Other

N/A

(This NCD last reviewed August 2010.)