EviCore Extends Coverage to Elucid’s PlaqueIQ Image Analysis Software

EviCore has updated its cardiac imaging guidelines to include coverage of Elucid’s coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) plaque quantification, effective Oct. 1.

EviCore’s updated coverage guidelines for CPT Codes 0623T-0624T could extend non-invasive plaque analysis to more individuals and help physicians better understand patients’ coronary plaque, according to the company. Elucid’s flagship PlaqueIQ coronary plaque assessment technology falls within the coverage guidelines.

PlaqueIQ is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared, non-invasive plaque analysis based on objective histology. PlaqueIQ delivers automated quantification and classification of plaque morphology, and can identify and quantify lipid-rich necrotic core, the plaque type most strongly associated with cardiovascular risk. The software aims to help physicians prioritize and personalize treatment based on actual coronary artery disease rather than population-based risk. This technology supports physicians in evaluating patients’ risk of future cardiac events, such as heart attack and stroke, and enables the development of personalized care pathways informed by each patient’s individual plaque characteristics.

“EviCore’s updated coverage guidelines demonstrate the increased understanding of the value of non-invasive coronary plaque analysis using Elucid PlaqueIQ,” Elucid CEO Kelley Huang, Ph.D., said. “This milestone is one more step towards our vision of a future where cardiac care is personalized patient care as opposed to risk factor and population-based care.”

EviCore’s updated commercial coverage guidelines follow a new CMS rule that went into effect Jan. 1 that doubled the amount paid to hospitals and outpatient clinics that perform cardiac CT scans from $175 to $357.13. This has allowed more hospitals, particularly those in non-urban areas, to offer this service, reducing disparities in care. In late 2024, five of the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) issued decisions to extend coverage of Elucid’s PlaqueIQ AI-enabled quantitative coronary plaque analysis software, increasing its availability to more than 70% of eligible U.S. Medicare patients.

Elucid is a Boston-based AI medtech company developing technology that provides physicians with a more precise view of atherosclerosis (coronary plaque buildup), the root cause of cardiovascular disease. PlaqueIQ includes the only FDA-cleared CTA algorithm that objectively quantifies plaque morphology validated against ground truth histology. PlaqueIQ equips physicians with critical information regarding the type and amount of plaque in arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Elucid is also pursuing an indication for FFRCT, derived from its plaque algorithm, to help identify coronary blockages and the extent of ischemia non-invasively.