September 30 2004
Veenendaal, the Netherlands – Nucletron B.V., announced today that the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel has approved a CPT code for the implantation of the COMFORT™ Catheter System for patients who are candidates for breast conserving cancer treatment. The innovative COMFORT Catheter System marketed under the OncoSmart™ brand will be introduced at the ASTRO 2004 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. OncoSmart offers significant benefits to the breast cancer patient and health care professionals who treat the patient. Patients experience less discomfort during the course of treatment since the patented COMFORT™ Catheter design enables them to be treated on an outpatient basis, permits them to wear normal clothing and allows them to quickly resume daily activities. Treatment with the COMFORT Catheter System reduces the patient’s treatment time from six weeks to five days. The new CPT code is expected to be published in October 2004 and will be effective January 1, 2005. The new code will allow physicians to provide treatment in the hospital outpatient or freestanding facility. Rudolf Scholte, President and CEO of Nucletron BV noted, “We are pleased that the CPT Editorial Panel has recognized the clinical efficacy and unique characteristics offered by the OncoSmart Catheter. The new CPT code will facilitate appropriate reimbursement for breast cancer patients and enable significant patient benefits as well as enhance efficiency to the health care system.” CPT codes are used to describe procedures that are used by physicians across the United States. Members of The American Brachytherapy Society participated in a survey earlier this year to help determine the cost of the physician work, practice expense and liability insurance associated with this new technology. The AMA Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) Committee will use the findings of the survey to update the RBRVS, which helps determine the appropriate payment for procedures such as breast conserving cancer treatment. The new code and reimbursement level will be published in the 2005 CMS Final Rule. Additional information regarding CPT codes and the coding approval process can be found at the AMA website: http://www.ama-assn.org/. About Nucletron B.V. Nucletron specializes in the development, manufacture, sales, service and support of the world’s most innovative products for cancer treatment, with particular expertise in treatment planning, brachytherapy, information management, simulation and service. The company has over 20 offices worldwide, including its corporate headquarters in the Netherlands. For more information on Nucletron, please visit: http://www.nucletron.com/ Nucletron B.V. is a subsidiary of Delft Instruments N.V. Delft Instruments is the holding company if an international group of companies, which hold a leading position in their respective markets with high quality, high technology products and services. Delft Instruments employs some 1,200 people and reported net profit of EUR 10.4 million on turnover of EUR 237 million in 2003. For more information on Delft Instruments, visit: http://www.delftinstruments.com/
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