High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) developer SonaCare Medical said that Medicare reimbursement will soon increase for prostate HIFU ablation procedures performed in ambulatory surgical center (ASC) settings.
In its October 2017 update of the ASC payment system, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said the ASC payment status for the code used to bill for HIFU ablation of prostate tissue (C9747) now recognizes HIFU as a "device-intensive procedure," according to SonaCare. The new typical ASC payment level would be $5,444.89, up from the approximately $4,000 payment rate that went into effect on July 1. The hospital-based payment rate will remain at approximately $7,500, however.
The new payment will go into effect on or after October 1, SonaCare said.
