July 26, 2007 – The American Medical Association (AMA) Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel has approved a CPT Code for the use of electronic brachytherapy for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. Electronic Brachytherapy is a novel form of high-dose rate (HDR) radiation therapy targeted for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. According to Xoft Inc., developer of the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System, a proprietary cancer treatment platform, this decision is an important step in accelerating the adoption of the new treatment option that is designed to deliver targeted radiation therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
The New CPT code took effect July 1, 2007. In addition, the Category III CPT Code 0182T: HDR electronic brachytherapy, per fraction, has been assigned a New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC). The APC payment includes the HDR electronic brachytherapy radiation treatment and the cost of the X-ray source.
“We have been eagerly awaiting the Xoft’s Axxent System as a new option for high dose rate partial breast radiation treatment,” said Carl Bogardus, M.D. of the University of Oklahoma. “The cost benefits and excellent safety and convenience of the Xoft System are overwhelmingly persuasive to utilize in our practice. And, the assignment of the electronic brachytherapy CPT and New Technology APC broadens our ability to offer this innovative technology to our Medicare constituents.”
Designed to help reduce recurrence of breast cancer, the Axxent System for early stage breast cancer uses a miniaturized X-ray source that can deliver localized, targeted radiation treatment in virtually any clinical setting under the supervision of a radiation oncologist.
Because it eliminates the need for heavily shielded environments, radiation oncologists can deliver therapy in a broader range of clinical settings. Use of Electronic Brachytherapy potentially reduces the time required for radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer from seven weeks (for external radiation therapy) down to five days.
For more information: www.xoftinc.com