April, 2003 -- Federal health officials have announced that Medicaid coverage will be expanded to include positron emission tomography -- or PET -- scans for thyroid cancer and heart disease.

While Medicare already covers PET for a variety of other conditions and cancers, this is the first time it has been approved for thyroid cancers in patients where Iodine-131 scans are not helpful from a diagnostic standpoint.

The expansion will also cover PET scans for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and stroke.

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