NATICK, Mass., Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®1) Editorial Panel has assigned Category I CPT codes specifically for bronchial thermoplasty in its recently published CPT 2013 Professional Edition.  Beginning January 1, 2013, physicians and hospitals will be able to seek reimbursement through two new codes to describe the bronchial thermoplasty procedure.  Category I CPT procedure codes are recognized by all public and private health insurance payers in the United States. 

"The American Thoracic Society is pleased that starting January, 2013 physicians will have Category I CPT codes for coding and billing bronchial thermoplasty," said Monica Kraft, M.D., President, American Thoracic Society. "The ATS played a pivotal role in petitioning for the Category I CPT codes and we applaud the AMA CPT Editorial Panel for its decision to adopt the codes.  The ATS notes several recent peer reviewed publications have indicated the safety and efficacy of bronchial thermoplasty in well-defined patient populations.  We expect the Category I CPT codes will expand patient access to this new asthma therapy."

According to the AMA, criteria for a procedure to be awarded Category I CPT codes include:

• The suggested procedure/service is a distinct service performed by many physicians/practitioners across the United States; and
• The clinical efficacy of the service/procedure is well established and documented in U.S. peer-reviewed literature.²

"The CPT³ Editorial Panel's decision is not only a major reimbursement milestone for bronchial thermoplasty, but we believe it is also an indication of the strength of the clinical evidence and the tremendous support for the procedure amongst pulmonary physicians," said David Pierce, President, Boston Scientific Endoscopy. "These codes should provide greater access to treatment for patients with poorly controlled severe asthma, help facilitate easier claims processing, and help accelerate private payers' coverage of this much-needed treatment option."

The Alair^® Bronchial Thermoplasty System is an FDA-approved device used in a bronchoscopic procedure performed under moderate sedation.  The Alair System delivers thermal energy to the airway wall in a precisely controlled manner to reduce excessive airway smooth muscle.  It is designed to decrease the ability of the airway to constrict, thereby reducing asthma attack frequency and severity for patients whose asthma is not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists.  Clinical trial results, which have been published in multiple peer-reviewed articles, demonstrate safety out to five years and persistence of clinical benefit out to at least two years.

About Asthma
Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the world.  The prevalence of asthma has grown in recent decades, and there is no cure.  According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 20 million Americans have asthma.  Managing asthma consumes more than $18 billion of healthcare resources each year in the U.S.  Uncontrolled asthma results in approximately 10 million unscheduled physician office visits, 2 million emergency rooms visits, 500,000 hospitalizations, and 4,000 deaths annually in the United States.  Approximately five percent of Americans suffering from asthma are diagnosed with severe persistent asthma. 

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties.  For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.  

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¹ CPT Copyright 2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use. Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

² American Medical Association. CPT® Process - How a Code Becomes a Code. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/cpt/cpt-process-faq/code-becomes-cpt.page .

³ CPT copyright 2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation