Coverage for OAB nerve stim device expands

Uroplasty, Inc. announced that Cigna has written a positive coverage policy for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) delivered via Uroplasty's Urgent PC neuromodulation system for treatment of overactive bladder and associated symptoms of urinary urgency, urinary frequency, and urge incontinence.

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The new policy applies to approximately 14 million lives covered by Cigna and was effective Feb. 15, 2015, according to a press release from Uroplasty.

"This positive coverage decision by Cigna brings the total U.S. access to Urgent PC therapy to approximately 123 million lives covered by private payers in addition to over 50 million Medicare beneficiaries," said Rob Kill, president and CEO of Uroplasty, in the release.

PTNS was discussed by urologist Scott MacDiarmid, MD, in the recent Urology Times article “PTNS for overactive bladder: Patient selection and technique,” in which Dr. MacDiarmid writes of the advantages of the modality, especially in refractory OAB patients.

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“Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation offers patients an in-office, noninvasive treatment alternative, and I believe it is neuromodulation for the masses: the masses of physicians who are not liberally performing neuromodulation therapies and the masses of untreated [refractory OAB] patients, including the frail and elderly,” Dr. MacDiarmid wrote.

Dr. MacDiarmid also discusses PTNS’ efficacy and patient selection for the technique. The article can be found here.

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