NeoTract said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services OK’d reimbursement for its UroLift system for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate.
Coverage for the product is slated to begin Jan. 1, 2015.
The UroLift system consists of tiny devices that are inserted into the urethra through a minimally invasive procedure. The devices reopen the lower urinary tract by pushing aside tissue from the enlarged prostate.
According to NeoTract, UroLift is an alternative to traditional prostate surgery, which involves cutting or ablating prostate tissue. While surgery can be effective, it can also cause side effects such as incontinence or sexual dysfunction, according to the company.
“The establishment of CMS reimbursement for UroLift is a major milestone for NeoTract and the clinical community, and comes on the heels of positive coverage decisions from Aetna and Coventry earlier this year,” NeoTract CEO Dave Amerson said in a statement. “We are excited about the opportunity this presents for millions of men in the U.S. who are suffering from the symptoms of enlarged prostate, which often greatly impacts quality of life.”