Milestone Scientific Announces Favorable Medicare Pricing for its CompuFlo® Epidural System within First JMAC Region Covering Florida
July 10 2024 - 7:30AM
Milestone Scientific Inc. (NYSE: MLSS), a leading
developer of computerized drug delivery instruments that provide
painless and precise injections, today announced at the Sixth
Annual American Society of Pain & Neuroscience Conference in
Miami Beach that First Coast Service Options Inc. (FCSO), a
Jurisdictional Medicare Administrative Contractor (“JMAC”), has
granted favorable Medicare Part B physician price assignment across
Florida for use of the Company’s CompuFlo® Epidural System under
the American Medical Association’s (AMA) technology-specific
Category III CPT® code CPT0777T (real-time pressure-sensing
epidural guidance system when used in conjunction with a primary
ESI procedure). Additionally, the Company reports that it is making
progress on its reimbursement strategy in additional JMAC regions.
This favorable Medicare reimbursement is a
significant milestone in the Company’s strategy to advance broad
coverage and appropriate payment for the CompuFlo technology when
determined to be medically necessary and clinically appropriate for
the Medicare beneficiary. This decision by FCSO marks an important
step forward in making the CompuFlo® Epidural System more
accessible to patients who can benefit from this advanced
technology.
An estimated 1.6 million epidural (ESI) steroid
injection procedures are performed in Florida, which represents 18%
of the total ESI procedures for the treatment of chronic back pain
in the USA. Additionally, Medicare represents 40% of the clinical
practice volume, representing an initial addressable market of $125
million among Florida Medicare patients alone.
Arjan Haverhals, CEO and President of Milestone
Scientific, stated, “Based on FCSO’s price assignment for the
Category III CPT code CPT 0777T, Medicare payment in Florida is a
significant reimbursement achievement, and one of the most
important events in the history of our Company. Accordingly, we are
actively pursuing reimbursement in other Medicare jurisdictions
across the country. As previously reported, we took a very
methodical and strategic approach to reimbursement, working closely
with clinicians to document medical necessity. As illustrated by
our engagement with this Medicare jurisdiction, Milestone has been
educating the payers on the clinical utility and economic value of
the CompuFlo technology, thus enabling the JMACs to understand
coverage parameters and address appropriate pricing. We could not
be more pleased with the positive outcome by FCSO. We believe this
is a significant validation of the safety benefits of our
technology. While there is more work to be done in order to
introduce our technology across Florida, we have overcome what we
believe has been a major gating factor to broad adoption. I am
extremely proud of our entire team that worked tirelessly to
achieve this milestone and we look forward to providing further
updates on our nationwide reimbursement initiatives, as well as our
disciplined commercial rollout strategy for Florida in the near
future.”
The FDA cleared CompuFlo® Epidural System, known
for its ability to reduce the morbidity, pain and discomfort
associated with traditional epidural procedures, uses the Company’s
patented Dynamic Pressure Sensing® technology. This real-time
feedback technology ensures accurate placement of the epidural
needle, enhancing patient safety and comfort.
Medicare reimbursement for the CompuFlo®
Epidural System is expected to have several benefits:
- Increased Accessibility: Medicare
reimbursement will make this advanced technology more accessible to
a broader patient population, ensuring that more Medicare
beneficiaries can benefit from safer and more comfortable epidural
procedures.
- Enhanced Patient Outcomes: By
ensuring accurate needle placement, the CompuFlo® technology
reduces the risk of complications, leading to better patient
outcomes and higher satisfaction.
- Support for Healthcare Providers:
The availability of reimbursement will support healthcare providers
by allowing them to offer advanced pain management solutions
without financial barriers, improving the overall quality of
care.
Milestone Scientific is committed to expanding
its reimbursement strategy among additional JMAC regions, which
would broaden the settings in which the CompuFlo® Epidural System
can be more broadly adopted. This comprehensive approach aims to
establish the CompuFlo® technology as a standard of care in
epidural procedures.
About Milestone Scientific
Inc.Milestone Scientific Inc. (MLSS) is a
technology-focused medical research and development company that
patents, designs and develops innovative injection technologies and
instruments for medical and dental applications. Milestone
Scientific’s computer-controlled systems are designed to make
injections precise and efficient, as well as increase overall
patient comfort and safety. The Company’s proprietary DPS Dynamic
Pressure Sensing Technology® provides a platform to advance the
development of next-generation devices, regulating flow rate and
monitoring pressure from the tip of the needle, through platform
extensions involving subcutaneous drug delivery of local
anesthetic. To learn more, view the MLSS brand video or visit
milestonescientific.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking
statements regarding the timing and financial impact of Milestone's
ability to implement its business plan, expected revenues, timing
of regulatory approvals and future success. These statements
involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are based on
assumptions involving judgments with respect to future economic,
competitive and market conditions, future business decisions and
regulatory developments, all of which are difficult or impossible
to predict accurately and many of which are beyond Milestone's
control. Some of the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements are general economic conditions, failure
to achieve expected revenue growth, changes in our operating
expenses, adverse patent rulings, FDA or legal developments,
competitive pressures, changes in customer and market requirements
and standards, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in
Milestone's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including without limitation, Milestone's Annual Report
for the year ended December 31, 2022. The forward-looking
statements in this press release are based upon management's
reasonable belief as of the date hereof. Milestone undertakes no
obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking
statements for any reason.
Contact:Crescendo Communications, LLCEmail:
mlss@crescendo-ir.comTel: 212-671-1020
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