Female SUI treatment now covered by Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California now covers the Renessa System (Novasys Medical, Inc., Newark, CA) treatment for non-pregnant women diagnosed with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery.

Blue Shield’s coverage policy follows the California Technology Assessment Forum’s review of Renessa, which met all five of its criteria for safety, effectiveness, and improvement in health outcomes in appropriately selected patients.

The FDA-cleared Renessa System includes a small probe that a physician inserts transurethrally. The probe gently heats the tissue in the bladder neck and upper urethra. The heat denatures the collagen in the tissue, and upon healing, the tissue becomes firmer and more resistant to leaks, according to Novasys.