CVRx Barostim Procedure Assigned CMS New Technology Outpatient Payment

November 7, 2024—CVRx, Inc. announced recently that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) assigned the company’s Barostim procedure to New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) 1580.

The company advised that the APC payment of approximately $45,000 will continue in 2025, as published in the 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule.

Barostim announced earlier this year that CMS reassigned Barostim to a higher paying MS-DRG for inpatient procedures, which became effective October 1, 2024, increasing payment to $43,000 from a previous range of $17,000-$23,000.

Additionally, the company announced on October 18 that the American Medical Association CPT Editorial Panel approved the application to transition Barostim from Category III to Category I CPT codes, expected to be implemented on January 1, 2026.

“We applaud this action by CMS, which appropriately recognizes the resource requirements associated with the Barostim implant procedure in the outpatient setting,” commented Kevin Hykes, President and CEO of CVRx, in the press release. “We appreciate the support from the CMS Hospital Outpatient Physician Advisory Panel, medical societies, and the hospital and physician community throughout the public comment period. The three positive reimbursement developments announced in the last month represent a fundamental and comprehensive improvement in physician coding and hospital reimbursement. This will facilitate broader patient access to Barostim therapy, further strengthening our commercial foundation.”

According to CVRx, the Barostim system uses neuromodulation to improve the symptoms of heart failure. The implantable device delivers electrical pulses to baroreceptors located in the wall of the carotid artery that then activate the body’s baroreflex and trigger an autonomic response to the heart. The therapy is designed to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system and thereby reduce the symptoms of heart failure. In the United States, Barostim is FDA approved for use in heart failure patients. It has also received the CE Mark for use in heart failure and resistant hypertension in the European Economic Area.