April 4 2005  


 

Veenendaal, The Netherlands,  – Nucletron B.V., a global leader providing some of the world’s most innovative products and services for cancer treatment, announced that the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned new reimbursement for 2005 CPT codes introduced by the AMA.  


The new coding system and reimbursement can be used by hospitals and physicians to report the implantation of interstitial multi-lumen catheters for radiation therapy treatment delivery. The New Technology Payment Category assigned by CMS includes the costs for the clinical procedure, facility, and OncoSmart™ Catheters (formerly marketed as COMFORT™ Catheters). 


Brachytherapy for selected early stage breast cancer is a proven and innovative treatment approach that may increase breast conservation and reduce the need for mastectomy for many patients. Treatment time for breast brachytherapy (monotherapy) is generally four to five days instead of six to seven weeks for traditional radiation therapy.


The innovative and patient friendly OncoSmart™ Catheter offers benefits to both the patient and physician.  The novel design enables outpatient treatment, so patients are comfortable during treatment and can resume normal activities and appearances more quickly. Physicians have access to an appropriate reimbursement program, as well as to a treatment method enabling potentially higher patient throughput.


The new CPT code 19298 assigned by the AMA is for “placement of radiotherapy afterloading brachytherapy catheters (multiple tube and button type) into the breast for interstitial radioelement application following (at the time of or subsequent to) partial mastectomy, includes imaging guidance”.  The physician’s time spent on the implantation procedure will also be reimbursed under this code. 


Freestanding Facility Reimbursement

The OncoSmart™ Catheter implant may be performed in the freestanding center and the freestanding facility will report the new CPT code. CMS has established payment in the freestanding facility to include the cost of the OncoSmart™ Catheter as well as the facility costs. 


Hospital Outpatient Reimbursement

In the hospital outpatient setting, CMS has assigned CPT 19298 to a new technology code APC. Effective January 1st, 2005, hospitals are appropriately reimbursed for the technical components of implantation of the OncoSmart™ Catheter for interstitial radiation therapy treatment. 


For more information regarding reimbursement terms for CPT code 19298, please refer to http://nucletronevents.webex.com.


“We are delighted that CMS has assigned a new code for the OncoSmart™ Catheter.  This will increase access to the multi-catheter brachytherapy approach of a shortened five-day course of breast conserving therapy for patients who are not candidates for other methods of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI). These patients would otherwise be forced to seek a daily six week course of external radiation treatment following lumpectomy or opt for mastectomy,” stated Rakesh R. Patel, M.D., Assistant Professor and Radiation Oncologist, University of Wisconsin Medical School.


The OncoSmart™ Catheter fully supports interstitial Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) and enhances the acceptance of APBI by improving the quality of life during the course of the treatment.  The treatment is well accepted by women who would otherwise be unable to undergo breast-conserving therapy.


States Jack Coats, President of Nucletron Corporation, “Nucletron is proud to play a supporting role in enabling the adoption of this important new treatment option for breast cancer patients.  The new code and the reimbursement it provides will allow greater patient access to treatment options by permitting appropriate reimbursement for hospitals and clinicians.  In addition, proper reimbursement for this treatment will facilitate institutional participation in the upcoming 3,000 patient Randomized Phase III Clinical Study of Conventional Whole Breast Irradiation (WBI) Versus Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI) for Women with Stage 0, I, or II Breast Cancer (NSABP B-39 & RTOG 0413).  It is our hope that with more participating institutions, patient enrolment will be accelerated as will the initial results of the study.”


About Nucletron B.V.

Nucletron is a global leader in the development, manufacture, sales, service and support of the world’s most innovative products for cancer treatment, with particular expertise in treatment planning systems, brachytherapy, simulation, integrated software solutions for oncology, and comprehensive support and professional education and services. The company has over 20 offices worldwide, including its corporate headquarters in Veenendaal, the Netherlands. For more information on Nucletron, please visit: http://www.nucletron.com/.


Nucletron B.V. is a subsidiary of Delft Instruments. Delft Instruments is the holding company of 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 approximately 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, please visit: www.delftinstruments.com. 


About the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)

The NSABP is a not-for-profit clinical trials cooperative group. Research conducted by the NSABP is supported primarily by the National Cancer Institute. Results from NSABP trials have altered the treatment of breast and colorectal cancers. For more information about the NSABP or the Phase III Clinical Trial, please visit www.nsabp.pitt.edu

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About the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)

The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) is a clinical research component of the American College of Radiology (ACR), located in the ACR Philadelphia, PA office. RTOG is a multi-institutional international clinical cooperative group funded primarily by the National Cancer Institute. RTOG has over 30 years of experience in conducting clinical trials and is comprised of over 250 major research institutions in the United States and Canada. The group currently is conducting more than 40 active studies that involve radiation therapy alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapeutic drugs or which investigate quality of life issues and their effects on the cancer patient. The American College of Radiology (ACR) is a national professional organization serving more than 32,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of radiology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services. For more information on the RTOG, please visit .