Does Medicare cover laser interstitial thermal therapy?

Effective May 1, 2022, Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) will not be covered for Medicare Advantage plans and not medically necessary for commercial products for all neurological indications.

What is NeuroBlate?

NeuroBlate is a minimally invasive surgical tool that uses robotic control, directional laser technology, real-time MRI-thermometry, and proprietary NeuroBlate Fusion™ Software to enable the neurosurgeon to precisely ablate lesions in the brain.

Is Litt FDA approved?

The US FDA approved the use of MRI guided LITT system for ablation in neurosurgery in 2007. The FDA approval of LITT noted that this technology was well-established in the treatment of soft tissue lesions in other parts of the body.

What is the Litt procedure?

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LiTT) is a minimally invasive surgery for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, which involves seizures that don’t respond to medication. LiTT may be appropriate for some people with focal seizures, which are seizures coming from one region of the brain.

Are EEG’s covered by Medicare?

Medicare categorizes EEGs of all types as diagnostic lab tests and pays for 100 percent of their cost. To be eligible for this coverage, your health care provider must order it and certify that it is medically necessary. Both your physician and the lab or clinic that conducts the EEG must accept Medicare assignment.

Does insurance cover epilepsy surgery?

Epilepsy surgery is an option for people whose condition isn’t helped by medications or other treatments. During the surgery, doctors remove the part of your brain associated with your seizures. Medicare will pay for this surgery if it’s necessary because your epilepsy can’t be treated by other methods.

What kind of laser is NeuroBlate?

MRI-Guided Laser Energy.

Who created Litt?

In 1983, Bown used the Nd:YAG laser to induce focal tissue coagulation in an experimental brain model, which led to the development of LITT [17, 18].

How long is Litt procedure?

LITT surgery usually takes about three to four hours.

Is laser therapy a thermotherapy?

Lasers are highly focused beams of light that can be used to heat and destroy body tissues. Different types of laser therapy can sometimes be used to treat small retinoblastoma tumors.

What is the average cost of an EEG test?

Average out-of-pocket costs for electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, which can be used to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy, increased from $39 to $112. For MRI scans, they increased from $84 to $242. Office visits increased from an average of $18 to $52.

What is neuroblate laser ablation?

Designed to require only a small hole in the skull, about the diameter of a pencil. Intended to precisely ablate unwanted tissue in the brain. The NeuroBlate System portfolio offers a comprehensive, full solution laser ablation system that includes disposables, hardware, Fusion™ Software and TruTemp™ Technology. NeuroBlate System.

What is a neuroblate system?

The NeuroBlate System portfolio offers a comprehensive, full solution laser ablation system that includes disposables, hardware, Fusion™ Software and TruTemp™ Technology. NeuroBlate System. Technical Overview

What is cytoreductive surgery for brain tumors?

Cytoreductive surgery is used as the first line treatment for most brain tumors. However complete, curative, resection is not achievable in many tumors leading to the need for adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Laser interstitial thermal thera …