Acessa Health Announces Positive Payer Coverage, with Over Half of Insured Americans Covered for the Procedure

 New positive coverage further validates Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation (Lap-RFA), the Acessa procedure, as an important treatment option for uterine fibroids

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acessa Health Inc. announced today that the total number of people covered by insurance carriers for the Acessa procedure (CPT Code 58674) has grown by more than 30 million over the past 12 months, bringing the total to more than half of the covered lives in the United States. ⁽¹⁾ More than 156 million Americans are covered for the Acessa procedure, with expanded coverage over the last 12 months in Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. ⁽¹⁾

“Payers are responding to significant demand from physicians, patients and employers around the country for the Acessa procedure—a comprehensive, uterine preserving, safer, effective and cost-effective surgical option,” said Shonu Gandhi, Vice President of Market Access and Clinical Strategy.^(2,3,4) “The COVID-19 pandemic makes it more critical than ever that patients and physicians have access to surgical options that place the least amount of stress possible on the healthcare system. This short, outpatient procedure involves significantly less blood loss, less OR time, less time in the hospital, less hospital admissions and less ER visits than either hysterectomy or myomectomy.” ^(1,2,3,5)

“This is a procedure I have been waiting to make available to patients for years. I am thrilled about the shift in insurance coverage, which has made it possible for me to offer women a safe and effective alternative to hysterectomy,” said Dr. Craig Sobolewski, Head of the Minimally Invasive Gynecology Program at Duke University.^(2,3)

“The treatment of fibroids has largely remained the same for years. Acessa is a critical innovation, especially for women seeking symptom relief with uterine preservation. I’m thrilled to see payers make it possible for women to access this safe and effective option,” said Dr. Keith Isaacson, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Infertility at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School, and past president of AAGL, the medical society representing 7,000 gynecologists focused on minimally invasive gynecology.

“There is a strong body of literature supporting the fact that women suffering from fibroids need more information, more education and more options. I’m excited to see new therapies like laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation gaining payer coverage which will make minimally invasive procedures more accessible to women broadly,” said Dr. Linda Bradley, Vice Chair of the Women’s Health Institute and Director of The Fibroid and Menstrual Disorders Center at the Cleveland Clinic, and Medical Director of the AAGL.

The Acessa procedure is designed to treat women with uterine fibroids and is clinically proven with long-term data as a safe alternative to hysterectomy and myomectomy.^(2,3) Over 3,800 procedures have been performed to-date.⁽¹⁾ The Acessa ProVu system is the third generation of Acessa Health’s minimally invasive, laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation solution – and is the first and only solution with a category 1 CPT reimbursement code and widely established coverage. ⁽¹⁾ It has been the subject of 49 peer-reviewed publications. ⁽¹⁾

About the Acessa procedure

Unlike many alternative interventions, the Acessa procedure can treat nearly all locations of fibroids – including those outside the uterine cavity and within the uterine walls. The Acessa procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment that involves two small incisions and uses radiofrequency ablation (i.e., heat) to destroy each targeted fibroid by applying controlled energy through a small needle array.⁽²⁾ The treated tissue shrinks over time. There is no cutting or suturing of uterine tissue. Women experience minimal discomfort after the procedure and typically return to normal activities in 4-5 days. ⁽²⁾

About Acessa Health Inc.

Acessa Health is a women’s health innovator dedicated to advancing minimally invasive, uterine-sparing solutions for women with symptomatic fibroids. The company introduced the use of radiofrequency ablation under laparoscopic ultrasound guidance for the treatment of uterine fibroids. Acessa is continuing to develop technologies that give women more options. Acessa Health’s headquarters are in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit AcessaProcedure.com.

Sources

1. Data on file at Acessa Health
2. SG Chudnoff, et al. Outpatient Procedure for the Treatment and Relief of Symptomatic Uterine Myomas. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2013;121(5):1075–82.
3. Yelena Havryliuk, MD, Robert Setton, MD, John Carlow, EdD, MPH, Barry D. Shaktman, MD, Management of symptomatic fibroids: review and meta-analysis of the literature (2006 -2016), Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Vol. 21 (3) Jul-Sept 2017
4. Wakely Actuarial Firm claims analysis, pending publication, data on file at Acessa Health
5. Kim, Tana et al. Myomectomy associated blood transfusion risk and morbidity after surgery. Fertility and Sterility, Feb 2020.

Notes and Disclaimers

Results may vary

There are potential risks associated with the Acessa procedure. It may not be appropriate for all patients and all patients may not benefit. For information about the indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions, visit: www.acessaprocedure.com. Rx Only.

Although many patients may benefit from the Acessa Procedure, this treatment is not for everyone and results may vary. Patients should talk to their doctor about the potential benefits and risks and whether this treatment is right for them. Information contained in this article is not to be used as a substitute for talking to your doctor. You should always talk to your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Physicians neither pay nor receive any fees in connection with their listing on in this article

This document is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or official guidance from payors. It is not intended to increase or maximize reimbursement by any payor. Hospitals and physicians are solely responsible for being in compliance with Medicare and other payor rules and requirements for the information submitted with all claims and appeals. Acessa Health does not warrant or guarantee that the use of this information will result in coverage or payment for any particular therapy. Before any claims or appeals are submitted, hospitals and physicians should review official payor instructions and requirements, should confirm the accuracy of their coding or billing practices with these payors and should use independent judgment when selecting codes that most appropriately describe the services or supplies provided to a patient. ICD-10 codes and CPT codes and descriptions only are copyright by the American Medical Association. All rights reserved. The American Medical Association assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.