SonaCare Medical Reports that CMS Announces Increase to ASC Payment for HIFU Prostate Ablation

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SonaCare Medical, leading developer and manufacturer of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies, is pleased to announce an increase in Medicare payment for prostate HIFU ablation in the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) setting. 

In the October 2017 update of the ASC Payment System, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated that the ASC payment status for C9747, the code used to bill for HIFU ablation of prostate tissue, now recognizes HIFU as a "device-intensive procedure". The new typical ASC payment level is $5,444.89, as compared to the approximately $4,000 payment amount which went into effect July 1.  The hospital-based payment rate remains at approximately $7,500.

According to Dr. Mark Carol, CEO of SonaCare Medical, "We are delighted to have CMS initiate device intensive status of prostate HIFU ablation. HIFU ablation with Sonablate® is suited ideally for delivery in an ASC, which is a physician and patient friendly environment for outpatient procedures. An increased payment makes it more likely that prostate HIFU ablation will be offered in ASCs, thereby enabling greater opportunity to provide this single-visit procedure, with its extremely limited side effect profile, to as many men as possible."

Since Sonablate® received FDA clearance on October 09, 2015, more than 1,200 patients have had a Sonablate HIFU prostate procedure across the 40+ locations in the U.S., including placements at top-tier academic institutions in California, Indiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, New York, Arizona, and Texas. 

About SonaCare Medical, LLC

SonaCare Medical is a world leader in minimally invasive focused ultrasound technologies. SonaCare Medical is committed to developing focused ultrasound related technologies that support precise and innovative procedures for the treatment of a range of medical conditions. SonaCare Medical, with its subsidiary Focus Surgery, Inc., designs and manufactures medical devices, including the following: Sonablate®, which has 510(K) clearance in the U.S.; Sonablate® 500, which has CE Marking and has obtained regulatory authorization in more than 50 countries outside the U.S.; Sonatherm® laparoscopic HIFU surgical ablation system, which has 510(K) clearance in the U.S., has CE Marking and has obtained regulatory authorization in more than 30 countries outside the U.S.

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SOURCE SonaCare Medical, LLC