Olympus supports the decision regarding the
per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure which offers patients
another treatment option
CENTER
VALLEY, Pa., July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus, a global medical
technology company committed to making people's lives healthier,
safer and more fulfilling, today announced its support for a
decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to
significantly increase the payment rate for the per-oral endoscopic
myotomy (POEM) procedure, a change that is expected to improve
patient access to the minimally invasive procedure.
Effective Jan. 1, CMS increased
the hospital outpatient payment rate for POEM procedures, CPT code
43497, by 67% from approximately $3,261 to $5,435.
The higher payment rate is reflective of the complexity and
resources of this time-intensive procedure.
"Following a rigorous evidence-based review by CMS, we are very
pleased to see this positive payment update for the POEM
procedure," said Paul Skodny,
PharmD, Executive Director for Health Economics and Market Access
at Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "As we continue to advocate
for improved access to minimally invasive procedures like POEM,
this type of positive decision is an important development and one
that aligns with our core values that include patient focus."
POEM is a minimally invasive procedure performed endoluminally
as an alternative to open or laparoscopic surgery and is used to
treat swallowing disorders such as achalasia. Achalasia is an
esophageal disorder in which the lower esophageal sphincter does
not relax properly, preventing food and liquid from moving into the
stomach.
POEM is an alternative to the laparoscopic surgical option of
Heller's myotomy for the treatment of achalasia. A common
nonsurgical treatment option is pneumatic dilation in which a
ballon is inserted into the esophageal sphincter and inflated to
enlarge the opening. The procedure may be repeated if the
esophageal sphincter does not stay open, and about a third of
people who undergo this procedure need treatment again within five
years.1
Studies looking at the effectiveness of POEM found that the
procedure is safe and effective with 90% clinical success at more
than five years and that POEM demonstrated significantly greater
clinical success at 12, 24 and 36 months compared to pneumatic
dilation.2, 3
"We applaud CMS for the decision to bring the payment rate for
POEM into better alignment with the complexity of the procedure. We
hope this results in greater patient access to a procedure that
offers the potential for improved patient outcomes," said
Craig Munroe, MD, Global Lead
Medical Affairs GI-ET. "Olympus is a pioneer of endoluminal
procedures and has worked with GI societies and stakeholders to
advance minimally invasive procedures such as POEM. As part of our
commitment to patient focus, we will continue working to raise
awareness around options such as this."
Visit the Olympus product page to learn more about the complete
gastroenterology portfolio.
About Olympus
At Olympus, we are committed to Our
Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more
fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with
healthcare professionals to provide solutions and services for
early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming
to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in
targeted disease states.
For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of
contributing to society by producing products designed with the
purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the
world.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs
more than 4,500 employees throughout locations in North and
South America. For more
information, visit olympusamerica.com.
1 Mayo Clinic, "Diseases and
Conditions: Achalasia." Rev. May 15, 2024
|
2 Modayil, Rani, et al, "Peroral
endoscopic myotomy: 10-year outcomes from a large, single-center
U.S. series with high follow-up completion and comprehensive
analysis of long-term efficacy, safety, objective GERD, and
endoscopic functional luminal assessment," Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy, pub. Nov. 2021
|
3 Ofosu, A.; et al. "Peroral
endoscopic myotomy (POEM) vs pneumatic dilation (PD) in treatment
of achalasia: A meta-analysis of studies with ≥ 12-month
follow-up," Endosc Int Open, pub. July 2021
|
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SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas