If Medicare says the test isnt medically necessary, then why perform it?

Your doctor has made a medical judgment that you need the test. When your doctor says a test is medically necessary, he/she considers your personal medical history, any medications you may be taking, and generally accepted medical practices. When Medicare says a test isnt medically necessary, its not making a medical decision about your health. Its acting like an insurance company deciding what it will and wont pay for. And, just like private insurers, there are occasions when Medicare wont pay for services that doctors think are important to a patients health. But as the ABN states, you have the option not to have the test done. If you have questions about a specific test your doctor has ordered for you and why its medically necessary, ask your doctor.  more