New Medicare Reimbursement Code For Orthovisc For Patients With Osteoarthritis, USA

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 09 Nov 2006 - 14:00 PDT


DePuy Mitek, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned a new reimbursement HCPCS ("J") Code to ORTHOVISC®, an ultra pure hyaluronan injectable used to improve mobility and treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

The HCPCS J Code, J7319, will take effect in January 2007 and will cover all hyaluronic acids.  Previously, ORTHOVISC was assigned a miscellaneous code that required manual billing and caused challenges and delays in processing claims.  The new code should improve claim processing, reduce denials of coverage and reduce administrative costs for physicians' offices.  Doctors should continue to use the current miscellaneous code until the new code is published in January.  Existing codes for hylaruonic acids are scheduled for deletion on December 31, 2006.

"This is good news for doctors and their patients who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee," said Michel Paul, President, DePuy Mitek.  "By assigning ORTHOVISC a permanent J Code, CMS has simplified the reimbursement process for doctors and improved patient access to this important treatment.  However, while ORTHOVISC will have the same code as other hyaluronic acids, important differences remain."

ORTHOVISC is the only viscosupplementation product in this classification with a 30-mg per dose, 3-injection treatment regime that offers 26 weeks of pain relief.  ORTHOVISC contains no buffers or preservatives and no pseudoseptic reactions have been reported in more than 1 million injections.

More than 10 million people suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, an often painful condition caused by the deterioration or loss of cartilage around the knee.  Treatment options include physical therapy and exercise, medications, corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections, and surgery.

Hyaluronan is a natural chemical found in the body that acts like a lubricant and shock absorber for the knee.  ORTHOVISC contains the highest concentration of ultra-pure hyaluronic acid per injection on the market today.  A doctor injects ORTHOVISC directly into the knee once a week, for a total of three injections, usually in the doctor's office.  ORTHOVISC provides lubrication for the knee, helps to cushion the knee joint and can relieve knee pain for up to six months and improve mobility. 

DePuy Mitek markets ORTHOVISC to arthroscopists, orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists.  Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANIK) developed and manufactures ORTHOVISC.

ORTHOVISC is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to hyaluronate formulations or known avian or avian-derived allergies including eggs, feathers, or poultry.  ORTHOVISC should not be injected in patients with infections or skin diseases in the area of the injection site or joint.  Strict aseptic technique should be used.  The effectiveness of more than one course has not been established. 

For more information contact DePuy Mitek Customer Service at 800-382-4682 or visit http://www.orthovisc.com.  For reimbursement information visit http://www.orthoviscline.com or call 866-633-VISC (8472).

  About DePuy Mitek, Inc.

DePuy Mitek, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, is a leading developer and manufacturer of a wide range of products and solutions that simplify procedures and "Restore the Anatomy"™.  Well known for its innovative surgical sports medicine and arthroscopic medical devices, DePuy Mitek currently operates in 58 countries.  Through an on-going process of improving upon and creating technologically advanced materials, instruments, implants and techniques for shoulder, knee and small joint pathologies, DePuy Mitek continues to advance arthroscopic procedural solutions in the field of sports medicine while expanding into viscosupplementation and biologics.  DePuy Mitek's patient education efforts include websites such as http://managingosteoarthritis.com and http://www.shoulderpainsolutions.com/.  For more information, visit http://www.depuymitek.com.

  About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (http://www.anikatherapeutics.com) develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing and repair. These products are based on hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring, biocompatible polymer found throughout the body. ORTHOVISC is a registered trademark of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

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