CVRx Barostim Procedure to Treat Heart Failure Receives Increased CMS Outpatient Payment

November 3, 2023—CVRx, Inc. announced that the company’s Barostim implantation has been reassigned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for procedures performed in the outpatient setting as part of the 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule.

The company advised that Barostim was reassigned to New Technology APC 1580, which carries an average payment amount of $45,000. The new payment takes effect January 1, 2024.

In 2023, Barostim was assigned to APC 5465, which carries an average payment amount of $29,000, with a Transitional Pass-Through Payment set to expire on December 31, 2023.

“We sincerely appreciate the consideration taken by CMS of the resource requirements associated with the Barostim implant procedure,” stated Nadim Yared, President and CEO of CVRx, in the company’s press release. “We believe that reassignment to APC 1580 will facilitate increased access to the therapy for Medicare patients with heart failure by offering facilities sufficient reimbursement for the procedure. We are grateful for the support of the cardiology physician community in sharing their positive Barostim patient experience.”

The CVRx Barostim system is approved by the FDA for neuromodulation to improve the symptoms of heart failure. The implantable device delivers electrical pulses to baroreceptors located in the wall of the carotid artery to activate the body’s baroreflex, which in turn triggers an autonomic response to the heart.

Barostim has also received the CE Mark approval for heart failure and resistant hypertension in the European Economic Area, advised the company.