NeoTract's UroLift® Implant Procedure for Men with Enlarged Prostate Receives Medicare and Medicaid Outpatient Billing Codes for Reimbursement

PLEASANTON, Calif., March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoTract, Inc., today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued two new codes that describe the UroLift® implant procedure for the treatment of enlarged prostate in the April 2014 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).  Effective April 1, 2014, hospitals will be able to request Medicare reimbursement for the UroLift implant procedure using these newly issued specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes.  The UroLift System was cleared for use by the FDA on September 13, 2013.

"Having defined coding for the UroLift System will greatly facilitate the reimbursement process," said Dave Amerson, President and CEO, NeoTract. "We have been very pleased with CMS's thoughtful and diligent process to establish these important codes, which we believe will facilitate the availability of this new treatment alternative for patients experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)."

"We very much welcome the issuance of specific codes for the UroLift implant system," said Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, urologist at Houston Metro Urology in Texas. "This procedure offers certain men suffering from an enlarged prostate an important alternative treatment that effectively addresses their symptoms while avoiding risks associated with other treatment options and importantly, preserves sexual function."

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, is a medical condition in which the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. The condition is common, affecting approximately 37 million men in the United States. BPH symptoms include sleepless nights and urinary problems, and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life. About one in four men experience BPH-related symptoms by age 55, with 90 percent of men over 70 symptomatic.

Medication is often the first line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts or ablates prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options, such as the 'gold standard' surgery, Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation (dry orgasm).

Data from a pivotal 206-patient randomized controlled study, conducted primarily in the U.S., showed that patients with enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid symptomatic improvement, improved urinary flow rates, and sustained sexual function with minimal adverse events. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Adverse reactions associated with UroLift System treatment were comparable to other minimally invasive surgical therapies as well as standard cystoscopy. The most common adverse events reported during the study included pain or burning with urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate, and the inability to control urine because of an urgent need to urinate. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure.  

About UroLift
The UroLift System permanent implants, delivered during a minimally-invasive procedure, effectively treat BPH by acting like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open. Patients recover from the procedure quickly, and return to their normal routines with minimal downtime. Learn more at www.UroLift.com.

About NeoTract
NeoTract, Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally-invasive and clinically-effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using the UroLift System, a minimally-invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Canada. Learn more at www.NeoTract.com.

SOURCE NeoTract, Inc.