Primary Stroke Centers May Boost Use of TPA : Improved patient care and wider use of tissue plasminogen activator are likely, experts say.

In addition, there is a growing likelihood that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will soon create a Medicare reimbursement code for acute stroke care.

“The Medical Economics and Management Committee of the American Academy of Neurology has set up a dialogue with CMS,” Dr. Kenton told this newspaper. “There already is a reimbursement code for the catheters that deliver thrombolytic therapy during a stroke, so clearly there will be a code for the physicians who use the catheters.”

Dr. Kenton was hopeful that a code might be in place before the end of this year.