Heart beat: Wider coverage for home blood thinner checks
Heart beat
Wider coverage for home blood thinner checks
Millions of Americans take warfarin (Coumadin) to prevent blood clots. The drug can be a lifesaver, but it can also be a hassle. Unlike aspirin or a cholesterol-lowering statin, which you take at a fixed daily dose, the amount of warfarin must be adjusted every so often depending on the results of a one-minute blood test.
Most people make special trips to the doctor for this test, even though home testing kits are available and have been shown to improve warfarin use. Medicare and other insurers haven’t been eager to cover the kits, limiting their use to people with mechanical heart valves.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.