Halt Medical said yesterday that its Acessa treatment for symptomatic firbroids is now covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Acessa uses radiofrequency ablation guided by ultrasound to remove fibroids, which are benign, non-cancerous tumors that occur in women’s uteri, often during childbearing years, Halt Medical said.
“Millions of women suffer from heavy bleeding, pain and bloating due to fibroids, but prefer to avoid the risks and long recovery of a hysterectomy, so they just endure these debilitating symptoms. Now there is Acessa, a less invasive option that significantly reduces or eliminates these symptoms in a single outpatient procedure with a quick recovery time; most women return to normal activities in 3-5 days,” Halt Medical COO Russ DeLonzor said in a press release.
Acessa treatment is covered by BCBS’s plan for patients who have severe menorrhagia causing anemia, bulk-related symptoms such as pelvic pain, discomfort or pressure and contraindications to general anesthesia, according to BCBS’s medical policy. The policy also states that patients must be in a pre-menopausal state if they wish to avoid a hysterectomy.
Acessa is already covered by Aetna, Health Care Services Corporation, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Coventry and other insurance groups, Halt Medical said.
Last April, Halt Medical listed more than $92.8 million raised in a pair of funding rounds, used to restructure some existing debt and fund U.S. commercial efforts, the company said.
