Medicare Decision Improves Quality Of Life, Gives ALL Patients Access To "Single Use" Catheters

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 19 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PST

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A sweeping change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy now allows patients on intermittent catheterization up to 200 single-use, disposable catheters per month, including the industry-leading LoFric, manufactured by Astra Tech. Most notably, patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and spina bifida now have better access to high-quality, single-use catheters such as LoFric. This represents an important advance in patient quality of life that has long been advocated by healthcare organizations, patient interest groups and medical equipment manufacturers. And to further improve patient access, Astra Tech has announced a new pricing structure in the US.

"Astra Tech's mission is to enable catheter users to live a healthier, more active life by making the simple act of 'going to the bathroom' easier, cleaner, and more comfortable for those who can't urinate the usual way," said Carolina Facciani, product manager for the US market. "However, because of reimbursement restrictions, LoFric wasn't available to everyone. We're happy to announce that now virtually everyone will have access to a high-quality, comfortable catheter."

The LoFric catheter was introduced by Astra Tech in 1983 and was the world's first low-friction hydrophilic catheter. LoFric satisfied a huge unmet need for comfortable, discrete, disposable intermittent catheterization that could be easily and conveniently self-administered. Still the most widely used hydrophilic catheter available today, LoFric has been extensively documented in studies and clinical use for more than 25 years. A wide range of LoFric catheters are available to accommodate individual needs, all using the Urotonic™ Surface Technology designed to reduce friction between the urethra and the catheter during intermittent insertion and removal, minimizing the risk of inflammation.

Facciani says that Astra Tech's response to the CMS approval reflects its 25 years of market leadership in the hydrophilic intermittent catheter segment. "We're proud that many catheter users that started with LoFric 25 years ago are still using the catheter and have not had recurrent urinary tract infections, which demonstrates LoFric's efficacy, reliability and safety," she said.

Astra Tech is a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and develops and produces advanced medical devices and dental implants. With these products, Astra Tech aims to improve treatment results, facilitate procedures, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance patient quality of life. Its headquarters, located in Mölndal, Sweden, houses facilities for research and development as well as production.

http://www.lofric.us