Medical today reacted to news that the Centers for Medicare
Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Final
Decision Memorandum restricting coverage for a popular,
non-invasive, inexpensive pain therapy called Transcutaneous Electrical
Nerve Stimulation (TENS). This notice is expected to result in a
national coverage decision later this year. TENS is delivered to the
lower back by using a small stimulation device that's mobile or can be
used at home.
With Friday's announcement from CMS, pain management physicians will
look to alternative treatments to treat Medicare patients with chronic
low back pain. "Although we disagree with their conclusions, we
understand Medicare's financial decisions are difficult as they strive
to manage our national health care expenditures," said Karl Kuzis, M.D.,
Ph.D., vice president of Medical and Clinical Affairs for RS Medical.
"Our company has experienced tough choices ourselves as we transformed
our organization by adding new solutions, while cutting costs and
putting our focus on supporting pain physicians. These pain treatment
specialists face many challenges from reimbursement, regulatory and
economic pressures."
In the U.S. alone, more than one in five, or 70 million, people suffer
from chronic pain, which causes disability in more people and
contributes more to health care expenditures than cancer and cardiac
diseases combined. Approximately 50 percent of all U.S. workers have
experienced symptoms of back pain, which is the most common ailment
requiring physician office visits. TENS received FDA clearance in the
mid-1970s as indicated for treatment of painful conditions and is
physician-accepted as a standard of care. TENS is safe, cost-effective,
fast-acting and patient-friendly and has few side effects. For Medicare
beneficiaries suffering from chronic low back pain, TENS will be
available with prescription for purchase through physicians or directly
through RS Medical on the effective date of the CMS decision. For
Medicare patients who suffer from painful conditions other than chronic
low back pain, TENS will continue to be covered by Medicare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZnJcgf268Y
RS Medical offers additional electrotherapy and procedural products that
pain physicians can use to treat back pain and will soon announce
several strategic partnerships to deliver new solutions for the
treatment of chronic pain. "We are building on our history and look to
be a trusted partner to pain physicians, supporting their practices by
delivering solutions to treat patients and improve outcomes," stated
John Konsin, president and CEO.
About RS Medical
RS Medical is a leading provider of products and solutions that
support pain management practices. The company sells
electrotherapy, bracing, cervical traction, bone growth stimulation and
interventional pain procedure products throughout the United States with
an employee sales and support team that markets directly to physicians
and selected health care facilities. More information can be
found on the company's Web site at www.rsmedical.com.
