AngioDynamics Announces Reimbursement Codes and Rates for Its VenaCure Laser Therapy; New Codes Will Simplify Billing and Payment and Promote Acceptance of the Procedure.QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- AngioDynamics, Inc., (Nasdaq:ANGO ANGO Algemene Nederlandse Gehandicapten Organisatie (Dutch: Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities) ) today announced that the Center for Medicare Services (CMS (1) See content management system and color management system. (2) (Conversational Monitor System) Software that provides interactive communications for IBM's VM operating system. ) has established new procedural codes and reimbursement rates for its VenaCure endovenous laser ablation Laser ablation is the process of removing material from a solid (or occasionally liquid) surface by irradiating it with a laser beam. At low laser flux, the material is heated by the absorbed laser energy and evaporates or sublimes. therapy for varicose veins Varicose Veins Definition Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous, elongated superficial veins that are usually seen in the legs. Description . The codes and payment rates are contained in The Medicare Program Final Rule for the Calendar Year 2005 announced on November 3rd and will become effective on January 1, 2005. The new codes, established by 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. , are 36478 for endovenous laser ablation therapy of incompetent vein, first vein treated, and 36479, endovenous laser ablation therapy of incompetent vein, second and subsequent veins treated in a single extremity. The physician payment for first vein treated is an average of approximately $2,011 when performed in the office setting. Actual payments will be adjusted for geographic cost differences. While these payment rates are applicable to Medicare, the Medicare payment has a strong influence on the establishment of the payment rate for private insurers. "We have anticipated and worked toward this moment for a long time," stated Brian Kunst, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance for AngioDynamics. "The establishment of dedicated procedural codes and reimbursement rates for our endovenous laser procedure removes the primary obstacle to commercial acceptance of this innovative therapy. Difficulties encountered by physicians and hospitals in billing and obtaining adequate reimbursement will be eliminated as the new codes and reimbursement rates are incorporated into the payment systems of Medicare carriers and private insurers. Difficulties encountered by insurance companies in processing claims that lacked a dedicated code, and the resulting inconsistencies in reimbursement payment, will also be eliminated, allowing our customers to receive predictable and consistent payment. It is expected that the creation of these codes will also act as a catalyst in achieving additional positive coverage decisions by more insurance companies, allowing more people to take advantage of this less invasive and less costly alternative to traditional vein stripping vein stripping Surgery The surgical removal of a varicose vein of the leg by ligating it–eg, the great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the junction with the common femoral vein in the groin, then yanking it, which pops off the collaterals, 'stripping' ." In another important reimbursement announcement, the new endovascular ablation procedural codes were included in the 2005 payment rates established by CMS under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System published on November 2, 2004. This system governs payments to hospitals for supply, equipment, and overhead expenses incurred during an outpatient procedure. A single average payment rate of approximately $1,538 applies to the new endovenous ablation codes for both laser and radiofrequency methods. Commenting on the announcement, Eamonn Hobbs, President and Chief Executive Officer of AngioDynamics, said, "AngioDynamics commends all the professional organizations and affiliations that worked together to accomplish this important goal. It represents a turning point in establishing the economic feasibility of VenaCure laser therapy and will assure continued growth of this market and delivery of the best available treatment to more patients throughout the nation." For additional information on the VenaCure laser vein treatment, contact David Doster at 1-800-772-6446, ext. 126, Email: DDoster@angiodynamics.com. You may also visit either the laser treatment web site at www.venacure.com or the AngioDynamics web site at www.angiodynamics.com. About AngioDynamics AngioDynamics, Inc. (www.angiodynamics.com) designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices used in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to treat peripheral vascular disease Peripheral Vascular Disease Definition Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It mostly occurs in the legs, but is sometimes seen in the arms. . It offers a broad line of therapeutic and diagnostic devices that enable interventional physicians, such as interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and others, to treat peripheral vascular diseases and other non-coronary diseases. AngioDynamics' diversified product line includes angiographic catheters, hemodialysis catheters, PTA PTA or parent-teacher association: see parent education. dilation dilation /di·la·tion/ (di-la´shun) 1. the act of dilating or stretching. 2. dilatation. di·la·tion n. 1. catheters, thrombolytic thrombolytic /throm·bo·lyt·ic/ (throm?bo-lit´ik) dissolving or splitting up a thrombus, or an agent that so acts. thrombolytic 1. dissolving or splitting up a thrombus. 2. an agent that dissolves or splits up a thrombus. products, image-guided 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 products, endovascular laser venous system products, as well as drainage products. The statements made in this document contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates," or variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations. In addition to the matters described above, the ability of the Company to develop its products, market acceptance and future sales of the VenaCure(TM) Laser Vein Treatment System, results of the pending patent litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. with Diomed, future actions by the 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. or other regulatory agencies, results of pending or future clinical trials, overall economic conditions, general market conditions, market acceptance, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the effects on pricing from Group Purchasing Organizations, competition, including alternative procedures which continue to replace traditional fluoroscopic Fluoroscopic (fluoroscopy) An x-ray procedure that produces immediate images and motion on a screen. The images look like those seen at airport baggage security stations. Mentioned in: Hypotonic Duodenography procedures, as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the SEC filings of AngioDynamics Inc., including but not limited to its Form 10K for the year ended May 29, 2004, may affect the actual results achieved by the Company. |
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