Insightec Announces Positive Coverage Decision By Aetna For MR-guided Focused Ultrasound To Treat Essential Tremor

MIAMI, April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Insightec®, a global healthcare company focused on creating the next generation of patient care, announced today that Aetna is the first national payor to cover MR-guided Focused Ultrasound for treating medication-refractory Essential Tremor.

"This is a huge step in expanding patient access to non-Medicare patients," said Dee Kolanek, Insightec Vice President of Reimbursement. "We applaud leading insurers like Aetna for their decision to cover this outpatient treatment for patients suffering from Essential Tremor."

Essential Tremor, a movement disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking, affects an estimated ten million Americans. Many patients do not get satisfactory relief from available medications, causing them to withdraw from personal, professional, and social interactions. Focused ultrasound is performed in a single, outpatient procedure with many patients showing immediate improvement of tremor in the treated hand with minimal complications.

"Focused Ultrasound technology has come a long way since the initial Essential Tremor pilot trial," said Dr. Jeffrey Elias, the Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia. "Today, the clinical community is able to provide strong real-world evidence in support of coverage decisions."

"Developing amazing technology is just the beginning – patient access is critical," commented Maurice R. Ferré MD, INSIGHTEC'S CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We continue to focus on helping transform the lives of millions of people by giving them back their ability to live independently, return to work, and improve their mental and physical health."

There are currently more than 60 Treatment Centers around the world using Insightec's Exablate® Neuro platform to treat Essential Tremor patients on a regular basis. Focused ultrasound treatment for medication-refractory Essential Tremor is covered under Medicare in all 50 states and is a covered benefit under 30 independent Blue Cross Blue Shield Association plans and nine private payors.

About Insightec

Insightec is a global healthcare company creating the next generation of patient care by realizing the therapeutic power of acoustic energy. The company's Exablate® Neuro platform focuses sound waves, safely guided by MRI, to provide tremor treatment to patients with Essential Tremor and Tremor-dominant Parkinson's Disease. Research for future applications in the neuroscience space is underway in partnership with leading academic and medical institutions. Insightec is headquartered in Haifa, Israel, and Miami, with offices in Dallas, Shanghai and Tokyo.

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Forward-looking Statements

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SOURCE INSIGHTEC