Cardio Diagnostics shares surge 17.44% premarket as CMS finalizes $854 Medicare payment rate for key tests.

Cardio Diagnostics Holdings surged 17.44% in premarket trading following the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of a finalized $854 gapfill payment rate for its Epi+Gen CHD™ and PrecisionCHD™ tests. The rate, significantly higher than preliminary rates of $350 and $684.76, respectively, marks a key development in expanding access to the company’s AI-powered cardiovascular tests for Medicare beneficiaries. The CEO highlighted the importance of this approval for scaling operations, as the tests received dedicated CPT codes in April 2024. The final rate, effective January 1, 2026, removes regulatory uncertainty and signals strong future revenue potential, directly aligning with the stock’s sharp premarket rise.