Prothrombin Time (INR) Home Testing Devices (CPB 0173, reviewed 2026-03-20)
Summary
Aetna clinical policy bulletin 0173 considers prothrombin time (INR) home testing units medically necessary durable medical equipment for patients on chronic warfarin for a mechanical heart valve, ventricular assist device, chronic atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous embolism and thrombosis of deep vessels of the lower extremity, or hypercoagulable states, when the expected need for home INR testing is 6 or more months, the patient has been anticoagulated for at least 3 months before using the device, and self-testing does not occur more than once a week. Aetna considers the units experimental, investigational, or unproven for all other indications, including arterial embolism to the eye, atrial flutter, and Kawasaki disease.
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