Halt Medical, Inc., a privately held medical device company, developing minimally invasive, uterine sparing solutions for women who suffer from symptomatic fibroids, announced today that with the support of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), and other independent laparoscopic gynecologists, the American Medical Association (AMA) has established a new CPT code specifically for Laparoscopic Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation of Uterine Fibroids. The AMA CPT Editorial Panel agreed that this service meets criteria for Category 1 assignment based on the procedure being consistent with current medical practice, and where the clinical efficacy of the procedure is documented in literature that meets the AMA CPT requirements.
CPT code 58675, will become effective January 1, 2017, and covers Laparoscopy, surgical, ablation of uterine fibroid(s), including intraoperative ultrasound guidance and monitoring, radiofrequency. Concurrent with this addition will be the elimination of the Category III code 0336T.
CPT codes are used by medical practitioners to report healthcare services. This standardized nationwide system of identification provides a uniform language for reporting medical services and has been used by Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial plans for more than half a century.
“This is an important milestone for Halt Medical and an endorsement for the unmet clinical need addressed by the Acessa Procedure,” according to Kim Bridges, President and CEO of Halt Medical, Inc. Jayne A. Little, VP of Global Health Economics and Reimbursement for the company added that, “Category 1 CPT Codes are reserved for technologies that have met the rigors of both clinical publications and physician adoption. We look forward to working with our customers and insurers to expand access of this procedure to women suffering from symptomatic uterine fibroids.”
Uterine fibroids are benign, muscular tumors in a woman’s uterus that can cause heavy bleeding, painful periods, pressure, and distention of the abdomen [1]. At least 70% of women in the U.S. will develop fibroids by the age of 50, with the prevalence even higher among African American women [2]. As a result, they remain a major women’s health issue with significant economic and reproductive impact. The NIH has determined that direct health care costs for the surgical treatment of fibroids is more than $2.1 billion annually [3]. In a Nationwide Inpatient Sample, over half a million women underwent hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions [4] and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) state that 39% of all hysterectomies are due to fibroids [5]. Over time, patients and gynecologists are turning to less invasive procedures and laparoscopic options are becoming more popular [6].
The Acessa Procedure is a minimally invasive, uterine conserving, laparoscopic procedure that delivers radiofrequency energy to destroy the fibroids. After treatment, the fibroid is reabsorbed by the surrounding tissue. The procedure allows the surgeon to treat only the fibroids, while preserving normal function of the uterus. Patients typically go home the same day with minimal discomfort, and enjoy a rapid return to normal activities.
[1] www.womenshealth.gov
[2] Baird DD et al. High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: Ultrasound evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003; 188 (1):100-107.
[3] National Institutes of Health fact sheet: http://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/viewfactsheet.aspx?csid=50
[4] Jacoby VL, Autry A, Jacobson G, Domush R, Nakagawa S, Jacoby A. Nationwide Use of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Compared With Abdominal and Vaginal Approaches Obstet Gynecol 2009;114(5):1041-1048.
[5] www.ACOG.org. 2011 Women’s Health Stats and Facts: p.18.
[6] Twijnstra AR, Kolkman W, Trimbos-Kemper GC, Jansen FW. Implementation of advanced laparoscopic surgery in gynecology: national overview of trends. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2010;17(4):487-492.
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