High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) developer SonaCare Medical said the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has accepted a reimbursement code application for HIFU prostate tissue ablation.
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code C9747, which is under the ambulatory payment classification (APC) 5375, will go into effect on July 1. The C-code covers the ablation of prostate tissue by transrectally delivered HIFU and includes image guidance, the company said. It applies to HIFU procedures including but not limited to primary whole gland ablation, subtotal ablation, and salvage ablation.
The code is applicable to procedures performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) facilities under the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and it may also be applied to claims from other providers in the future, SonaCare said.
