Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT)

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) focuses on the advancement and expansion of cardiac CT. The society serves a membership split about evenly between radiologists and cardiologists. SCCT hosts educational events, advocates for CCTA for reimbursement and helps set guidelines for cardiac imaging. The news, videos and content on this page are created by our Innovate Healthcare editorial team and focus on the clinical, operational and financial aspects of cardiac CT.

congress money legislation lawmaker bill senate house senator representative

Cardiology groups urge Congress to ‘take a stand’ after spending proposal fails to fix Medicare cuts

A new spending proposal that would extend government funding for another seven months does not address the Medicare payment cut that went into effect on Jan. 1. More than 100 healthcare groups, including the ACC, STS, SCCT and SCAI, are now voicing their disappointment. 

Why cardiac CT adoption remains low among primary care providers

The rapid rise of CCTA represents one of cardiology’s biggest ongoing trends, but most primary care providers are still not embracing a CT-first strategy.

Charalambos Antoniades, MD, the British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, is a co-founder of the company Caristo, which has developed technology to image coronary inflammation on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) scans to visualize a key factor of residual cardiovascular risk.

Detecting coronary inflammation on CT imaging could reshape preventive cardiology

New technology now being considered by the FDA for approval can capture coronary inflammation on CCTA images and provide risk assessments. What could this mean for the future of cardiac care? We spoke to one researcher to learn more.

Video of James Min, MD, explaining the future of cardiac care using CT and AI plaque analysis to create a personalized and more accurate cardiac risk assessment, similar to a mammogram for the heart.

Embracing the future: James Min left academia to push for a paradigm shift in preventive cardiology

James Min, MD, Cleerly's founder and CEO, changed careers to address what he saw as a major unmet need in cardiology.

SCCT Roundtable

SCCT leaders unpack the 2025 Medicare payment increase for coronary CTA

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography is cheering as a “huge win” the 2025 CMS payment increase for coronary CTA that more than doubles the current payment and “better aligns with the cost of providing CCTA services." The panel expects the move to bring an increase in CT utilization, more adoption with financial sustainability and greater access in currently underutilized areas.

‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

Example of an automated artificial intelligence (AI) assessment of soft coronary plaque from a CT scan from the vendor Cleerly. The AI gives a very detailed report of all the plaque in all the coronary vessels. Some cardiology experts believe this may be the way of the future in screening patients for early coronary disease and monitoring the impact of prevention efforts such as statins to determine if more aggressive treatments are needed.

Medicare administrative contractors approve coverage of AI-enabled quantitative CT

Four of the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) announced they will now cover artificial intelligence-enabled quantitative coronary tomography (AI-QCT) and coronary plaque analysis (AI-CPA). 

SCCT 2024-2025 President Maros Ferencik (right) shared an office with SCCT's first president Stephan Achenbach (left) in 2002.

New SCCT president takes office, lists priorities

Maros Ferencik, MD, noted that the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography represents specialists from many different specialties, including cardiology, radiology and beyond.