Court Enjoins Health Care Financing Administration ("HCFA") From Enforcing Non-Coverage Decision for Electrical Stimulation in Wound Healing.POMPANO BEACH, Fla.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 25, 1997-- Electropharmacology, Inc. (EPi) (Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board OTC Bulletin Board An electronic quotation listing of the bid and asked prices of OTC stocks that do not meet the requirements to be listed on the NASDAQ stock-listing system. : EPHI EPHI Electronic Protected Health Information (HIPAA) ) today announced that a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction A temporary order made by a court at the request of one party that prevents the other party from pursuing a particular course of conduct until the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A preliminary injunction is regarded as extraordinary relief. on November 18, 1997 against the HCFA HCFA abbr. Health Care Financing Administration HCFA, n.pr See Health Care Financing Administration. in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Physical Therapy Association The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. and six patient plaintiffs. While the injunction is in effect, HCFA must cease enforcement of its recent national non-coverage decision which prohibited any Medicare coverage of, or reimbursement for, electrical stimulation therapy for the treatment of wounds. As a result of the injunction, Medicare carriers and intermediaries are again authorized to cover and reimburse electrical stimulation therapy in those cases in which they determine that such therapy is reasonable and necessary. EPi's SofPulse(tm) product is currently used as an adjunct for the treatment of edema edema (ĭdē`mə), abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues or in the body cavities causing swelling or distention of the affected parts. and pain associated with superficial soft tissue injuries that include edema and pain associated with wounds. EPi has lost significant revenues since July 14, 1997, as a result of the implementation of the HCFA non-reimbursement policy, without a clarification as to whether it included the use of SofPulse(tm). In his ruling, the judge wrote, in part, "In this case, there needs to be, at the least, a better explanation by HCFA of its coverage determination and, perhaps, a revision of that determination." The Company, as previously announced, had sought a clarification from HCFA and hopes that the court order will facilitate such a clarification with respect to Medicare reimbursement for the use of SofPulse(tm) where it is reasonable and necessary. EPi is developing novel medical applications of proprietary pulsed electromagnetic signals (PEMS PEMS Predictive Emissions Monitoring System PEMS Portable Emissions Measurement System PEMS Pharmacy Education Management System PEMS Paris Evangelical Missionary Society PEMS Power and Energy Management Solutions PEMS Pre-and Early Modern Studies (tm)) in the radio frequency range. EPi manufactures and markets SofPulse(tm), which is used as a non-invasive adjunct for the palliative treatment of pain and edema in superficial soft tissue. CONTACT: Electropharmacology Inc., Pompano Beach Arup Sen, PhD 954/975-9818 |
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