Providing a single quality measurement source for CAS and CEA procedures The CARE Registry® assesses the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and endarterectomy (CEA) procedures, no matter which specialty performs the procedure—cardiology, interventional radiology, or vascular surgery. Unique in its unbiased focus, the CARE Registry includes independent neurological assessment using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale scores before, immediately after a CAS or CEA procedure, and at 30 days post procedure. The CARE Registry meets all Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data collection and reporting requirements for CAS claims reimbursement; in fact, it allows you to quickly and easily extract CMS-required data elements to facilitate their transmission to CMS as specified in the national coverage decision (NCD). That helps you maintain your facility’s certification and ensure prompt reimbursement.

Unbiased, evidence-based rationales for CEA vs. CAS procedures Physicians have used CEA procedures since the 1950s to prevent strokes in carotid artery disease patients. However, CEA is not free of complications. In recent years, CAS, a less-invasive procedure, has emerged as an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients. The CARE Registry fills a clear need for an independent national program to evaluate the frequency, use, and outcomes of CAS and CEA. By characterizing patient selection, procedural variances, and 30-day outcomes, the registry provides robust data that goes beyond, and improves upon, the limits of previous post-market surveillance trials and studies. For additional information about the CARE Registry, view the CARE Registry Program Overview.