American Medical Association Establishes Unique CPT Code for the Placement of the LifeSite Hemodialysis Access System.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2004 Vasca, Inc., a privately held medical device company, announced today that the American Medical Association American Medical Association (AMA), professional physicians' organization (founded 1847). Its goals are to protect the interests of American physicians, advance public health, and support the growth of medical science. (AMA (Automatic Message Accounting) The recording and reporting of telephone calls within a telephone system. It includes the calling and called parties and start and stop times of the call. ) has established a new CPT CPT See: Carriage Paid To code for the procedure associated with the implantation of the company's LifeSite(R) Hemodialysis Access System. This code became effective January 1, 2004. The new code, CPT 36566, is specific to the procedure for implanting the LifeSite System. CPT codes are established by the AMA for the purpose of reporting medical services and procedures. The codes provide a uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services diagnostic services, n.pl the imaging and laboratory capabilities available for determining the cause of an illness. and are use by physicians, hospitals and other medical providers. "We are very pleased that the AMA has created a unique CPT Code which describes the placement of the LifeSite System," stated Larry Yost, Vasca's Director of Marketing. "The creation of this code further recognizes the uniqueness of our innovative LifeSite technology and the procedure for implanting this device." The availability of a unique CPT code will allow physicians and hospitals to differentiate the procedure for implanting the LifeSite System from the placement of older technologies like hemodialysis catheters when completing claims forms after providing this service. The AMA has also established additional new CPT codes which describe other typical procedures associated with the LifeSite System. About the LifeSite System: The LifeSite System is the first totally subcutaneous hemodialysis access system commercially available to patients in the United States. Approximately 6,000 patients have utilized the LifeSite System for hemodialysis access in the United States since it received FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Clearance in August 2000. The LifeSite System is a new and innovative technology for patients requiring immediate vascular access vascular access Clinical medicine The ability to enter the vascular system; the ease with which the vascular system can be entered for administering therapy or obtaining blood for testing when initiating hemodialysis. The LifeSite System provides an immediate access alternative that delivers high flow rates, a low complication rate and ease of use while patients wait for the development of a functioning arteriovenous arteriovenous /ar·te·rio·ve·nous/ (-ve´nus) both arterial and venous; pertaining to or affecting an artery and a vein. ar·te·ri·o·ve·nous adj. Abbr. (AV) fistula fistula (fĭs`ch  lə), abnormal, usually ulcerous channellike formation between two internal organs or between an internal organ and the skin. . About the Company: Vasca, Inc., founded in 1996, is focused on becoming the worldwide leader in Body Access Management by developing innovative access technologies that improve the quality of patient care. For more information on Vasca, Inc. and the LifeSite System visit the company website at www.vasca.com. |
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