AbbeyMoor Medical's The Spanner temporary prostatic stent insertion procedure receives Category I CPT code

AbbeyMoor Medical Inc. announced today they have been granted a Category I CPT code by the American Medical Association (AMA) for The Spanner(TM) temporary prostatic stent insertion procedure. This important action, effective in January 2010, upgrades The Spanner from a Category III emerging technology procedure code to a Category I procedure code for established procedures. This major milestone for AbbeyMoor Medical will provide access to The Spanner for urologists and their patients across the United States.

The Spanner is the only FDA approved temporary prostatic stent. Patients who wear the stent have indicated their preference for The Spanner over catheterization.

"It is our goal to provide an improved quality of life for men suffering acute urinary retention," said John Reid, Co-Founder and CEO of AbbeyMoor Medical. "Receiving this Category I CPT code is an essential step in bringing this ingenious product to the national market. The code will assist physicians and their office staff in obtaining timely and accurate reimbursement for stent insertions in the office setting."

It is estimated that over 20 million American men suffer from symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with approximately 8 million men diagnosed with the condition. There are many options available for the treatment of BPH with medical therapy, traditional surgery, and an ever increasing number of minimally invasive treatment options. Many men choose one of several available minimally invasive office based treatments for their BPH to avoid the risks associated with surgery.

"We have several patients each month who benefit from The Spanner," said Douglas Chinn, urologist from Arcadia, CA. "We are excited to have this ingenious device now widely available to our patients and to have the ability to restore their quality of life," he added. Chinn is co-author of a recent article about the stent in Urology Times (July 2009): "How to manage BOO (bladder outlet obstruction) with temporary prostatic stenting."

The relative value units (RVUs) used to establish the payment amounts for The Spanner procedure will be published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Federal Register later this fall. CPT code 53855 will replace Category III CPT code 0084T, effective January 1, 2010.