HCFA expected to reimburse for TUNA
The Health Care Financing Administration is expected soon to publish guidelines covering reimbursement of Fremont, CA-based VidaMed’s TUNA System therapy for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, say agency sources.
To date, Blue Cross and Blue Shield providers in California, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Utah reimburse for the TUNA procedure. Additional managed care organizations that cover the procedure include Aetna/US HealthCare, Harris Methodist Health Plan, Humana, Prudential, Private HealthCare Systems, State Farm United HealthCare, and Oxford Health Plans.
The TUNA Procedure is a minimally invasive procedure for treating BPH that does not require hospitalization, a general anesthetic, or a long recovery period. The procedure utilizes radio-frequency energy to treat an enlarged prostate. About 50% of the VidaMed’s TUNA Systems are utilized by urologists in their offices.
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