GERD, Expanded Medicare Reimbursement For Plicator Procedure, NDO Surgical

Main Category: Acid Reflux / GERD
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 01 Feb 2006 - 2:00 PDT

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NDO Surgical announced that Medicare has increased its reimbursement rate for the Plicator procedure for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Effective January 1, hospital outpatient facility reimbursement for the Plicator procedure will increase by approximately 7.5%. The Plicator procedure was first recognized for payment under Medicare's hospital outpatient payment system on April 1, 2005.

"We are pleased by the CMS decision to increase its reimbursement rate for the Plicator procedure," said James A. Miraldi, president and chief executive officer of NDO Surgical. "NDO Surgical is committed to making the Plicator procedure available to the millions of GERD sufferers who struggle with persistent, debilitating symptoms."

More than 15 million Americans suffer from daily heartburn, the most common symptom of GERD. Until recently, treatment options for GERD have been limited to chronic drug therapy or anti-reflux surgery. While prescription medications help suppress acid production, they do not prevent the physical backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus. Anti-reflux surgery is effective in addressing the root cause of GERD by correcting the weakened valve mechanism; however, such surgery requires general anesthesia, multiple incisions and a recovery period lasting several days.

NDO Surgical's Full-Thickness Plicator is an FDA-cleared, endoscopic GERD treatment based on the proven principles of anti-reflux surgery. Through a simple, outpatient procedure, the Plicator is used to grasp, fold and fixate tissue at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach, thus tightening the valve that acts as a barrier to gastric reflux. The Plicator is the only endoscopic GERD treatment that mimics tissue restructuring performed during anti-reflux surgery. Clinical studies have shown the Plicator procedure to be effective in reducing both symptoms and medication use associated with GERD.

About NDO Surgical

Based in Mansfield, Mass., NDO Surgical is a privately held medical technology company dedicated to the development of innovative endoscopic technologies for gastrointestinal diseases. Additional information is available at the Company's Web site at www.plicator.com.

NDO Surgical
www.plicator.com

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