Vascular Testing for Cardiology Practices: 7 Practical Reasons

Vascular testing for cardiology practices means running non-invasive, in-office studies that measure blood flow and autonomic function so a cardiology team can evaluate for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and refine cardiovascular risk without sending the patient elsewhere. The core study is the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a simple ratio of ankle to arm systolic blood pressure that serves as a functional marker of atherosclerosis. For a cardiology practice, adding vascular testing turns a 7 to 10 minute staff-run test into objective, guideline-concordant risk stratification for patients with documented symptoms or risk factors, completed during a normal visit.

The clinical case is strong. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology list an ABI of 0.90 or lower as a “risk enhancer” that helps refine predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in primary prevention. PAD is common and underdiagnosed, affecting an estimated 10 to 12 million adults over 40 in the United States, with prevalence rising sharply from age 70 onward. This guide explains what vascular testing for cardiology practices involves, why it matters clinically, and how the HealthWright Technologies CMAT Advantage™ system helps practices bring it in-house.

What is vascular testing for cardiology practices?

Vascular testing for cardiology practices is a set of non-invasive physiologic studies that assess arterial blood flow and autonomic nervous system function at the point of care. Alongside the documented symptoms or exam findings that prompt the study, the practice measures objective numbers that support clearer diagnosis and follow-up.

A modern in-office vascular test panel typically includes:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI): the ratio of ankle to arm systolic pressure, used to evaluate and grade PAD.
• Toe-brachial index (TBI): useful when ankle vessels are calcified and less compressible, which is common in diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
• Volume plethysmography (pulse-volume recording): pulse-waveform recordings that help characterize arterial flow.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic measures: a non-invasive look at cardiovascular autonomic function.

The CMAT Advantage system from HealthWright Technologies is built on FDA-cleared component devices, with clearance held by LD Technology. It captures the ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index, ankle pulse-volume recording, and autonomic measures in a single, short visit, and it is designed for independent practices that want objective vascular and autonomic data without adding a vascular lab.

Why should cardiology practices offer in-office vascular testing?

Cardiology practices already manage the patients most likely to have hidden vascular disease. People with coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, and a smoking history share the same atherosclerotic risk factors that drive PAD, yet many have never had an ABI. Bringing vascular testing for cardiology practices in-house closes that gap during the visit the patient is already attending.

The ABI is not a niche number. A value of 0.90 or lower has been linked in cohort studies to more than a twofold increase in 10-year coronary events and higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Because the ABI is an independent, guideline-recognized risk marker, it gives cardiologists a low-cost, repeatable data point that supports primary-prevention decisions such as intensifying lipid therapy or antiplatelet strategy. The 2024 multi-society ACC/AHA guideline for lower extremity PAD reinforces the role of physiologic testing in identifying and grading the disease.

7 reasons to add vascular testing to a cardiology practice

Here are seven practical reasons independent cardiology practices are adding an in-office vascular test panel.

1. Objective PAD evaluation in high-risk cardiac patients. Your panel of coronary, diabetic, and hypertensive patients overlaps heavily with the population that has undiagnosed PAD. An objective ABI answers that question with a measurement instead of history alone.
2. Use a guideline-recognized risk enhancer. An ABI of 0.90 or lower is an ACC/AHA ASCVD risk enhancer, so the result directly supports primary-prevention conversations and documentation.
3. Add cardiovascular autonomic insight. HRV and related autonomic measures give a non-invasive window into autonomic tone, which research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology associates with cardiovascular prognosis.
4. Keep the workup in-house. Testing at the point of care means the cardiologist reviews objective numbers during the same visit, which may improve follow-through compared with an outside referral.
5. Create a reimbursable ancillary service. Complete bilateral physiologic studies are reported with CPT® code 93923, and Medicare covers medically necessary vascular studies.
6. Fit a busy schedule. A CMAT Advantage study runs in about 7 to 10 minutes and can be delegated to trained clinical staff, so it slots into a normal visit.
7. Strengthen guideline-concordant care. Objective vascular and autonomic data support the risk-stratification and documentation that value-based and quality programs increasingly expect.

Taken together, these reasons explain why vascular testing for cardiology practices has moved from a “nice to have” to a core part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment.

What does the CMAT Advantage system measure?

The CMAT Advantage system is HealthWright Technologies’ flagship diagnostic platform. It is non-invasive and built on FDA-cleared component devices from LD Technology, and a single session captures a broad set of cardiovascular and autonomic measures, including:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) for PAD detection and grading.
• Volume plethysmography (pulse-volume recording) at the ankle to characterize the arterial waveform.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) and Ewing battery autonomic tests for cardiovascular autonomic function.
• Sudomotor and galvanic skin response measures that reflect small-fiber autonomic activity.

Because the panel is captured in one short visit, a cardiology practice gets a comprehensive vascular and autonomic snapshot without stacking multiple appointments. To see how the flagship package is structured, review the CMAT Advantage overview and the underlying product details.

How does in-office vascular testing fit a cardiology workflow?

The practical appeal of vascular testing for cardiology practices is that it fits the visit you already have. Trained clinical staff can place the cuffs and sensors, run the automated study, and generate a report the cardiologist reviews before the patient leaves. There is no need for a separate vascular lab or a return trip.

A typical in-office flow looks like this:

• Identify candidates: flag at-risk patients (age 65 and older, diabetes, smoking history, known coronary or cerebrovascular disease) during rooming.
• Run the study: staff complete the 7 to 10 minute CMAT Advantage panel.
• Review and act: the cardiologist interprets the ABI, TBI, and autonomic results and folds them into the risk plan.
• Document and bill: record the medically necessary indication and report the complete study under CPT 93923.

Adding this service is also an established ancillary revenue strategy for independent practices, and it mirrors the in-office testing approach cardiology’s referring partners are adopting in primary care and podiatry.

In-office vascular testing vs. referring out: which is better for a cardiology practice?

Both paths have a place, but in-office testing changes the economics and the patient experience. The table below compares the two approaches for a cardiology practice.

For most independent groups, keeping the study in-house is the stronger option, which is why vascular testing for cardiology practices is increasingly built into the standard risk-assessment workflow.

Which cardiac patients benefit most from in-office vascular testing?

Vascular testing for cardiology practices delivers the most value in patients who already carry atherosclerotic risk but have never had an objective peripheral arterial evaluation. Priority candidates include adults aged 65 and older, anyone with diabetes or a history of smoking, and patients with known coronary or cerebrovascular disease. Testing this group with a quick ABI, when clinically indicated, helps a cardiology practice document disease, capture a recognized risk enhancer, and act on it during the same encounter rather than after a delayed referral.

Frequently asked questions about vascular testing for cardiology practices

Is vascular testing for cardiology practices worth adding?

For practices that manage cardiac, diabetic, and hypertensive patients, yes. These patients carry high PAD risk, the ABI is a guideline-recognized ASCVD risk enhancer, and the study is a reimbursable, staff-run service that fits a normal visit.

What CPT code is used for in-office vascular studies?

A complete bilateral non-invasive physiologic study of the lower extremity arteries at three or more levels is reported with CPT 93923. For a detailed walkthrough, see the ABI CPT code 93923 billing guide. Always confirm current coding and coverage with your payer.

Do you need a vascular lab to run these tests?

No. The CMAT Advantage system is designed for in-office use, so a cardiology practice can run a full vascular and autonomic panel without a dedicated vascular lab. Trained clinical staff operate the device.

What is a normal ABI result?

A resting ABI between 1.00 and 1.40 is generally considered normal, while 0.90 or lower suggests PAD and functions as a cardiovascular risk enhancer. See our reference on the normal ankle-brachial index range for details.

How does HRV add value in a cardiology setting?

Heart rate variability is a non-invasive measure of cardiovascular autonomic function that research associates with prognosis. Reviewed alongside vascular results, it can add context to a patient’s overall risk picture. Learn more about the heart rate variability test and cardiovascular autonomic testing.

Bring vascular testing to your cardiology practice

HealthWright Technologies helps independent cardiology practices add in-office vascular and autonomic testing with the CMAT Advantage system, built on FDA-cleared component devices from LD Technology, including device, training, implementation, and ongoing support. To see whether vascular testing for cardiology practices is a fit for your patient panel, contact HealthWright Technologies at healthwrighttechnologies.com/contact or email contact@healthwrighttechnologies.com. You can also call (678) 322-7146 or visit us at 60 Bear Creek Marina Road, Mansfield, GA 30055. Learn more about becoming a HealthWright partner. To see how this works in a real practice, read our CMAT Advantage case study from a specialty vein practice.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. CPT codes and coverage policies change; verify current codes, medical-necessity requirements, and payer rules before billing. Reimbursement is never guaranteed.

This article is for informational purposes for healthcare professionals and does not constitute medical or billing advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for individual patient decisions.