HCFA to Withdraw Medicare Non-Coverage Policy Proposed For the
Salitron(R) System
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Biosonics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BISN - news) announces
that on Tuesday, March 10, 1998, during a hearing held by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education, HCFA Administrator Nancy Ann DeParle stated her intention to withdraw the May 23,
1994, Federal Register notice which proposed a national Medicare non-coverage policy for the Salitron(R). Her statement was
made in response to a question concerning the status of the Agency's review of new information submitted by Biosonics in
support of an affirmative national coverage determination. A final decision on coverage of the Salitron remains under review by
the Agency. To date approximately forty-four private insurance carriers have reimbursed patient usage of the Salitron.
The Salitron is a portable, battery operated therapeutic device used by patients suffering from dry mouth secondary to
Sjogren's Syndrome, an auto immune disease. Medicare coverage would enable patients over 65 that suffer from this condition
the means to utilize the Salitron. Although dry mouth is not a ''killer'' disease, its devastating effect substantially reduces the
patients' quality of life. Medicare coverage would enable Biosonics to meet the needs of these patients who have very few
effective alternative long term treatments available.
Biosonics has developed several patented devices that counteract body malfunctions of which four have received FDA
approval to market. In addition to the SALITRON(R) mentioned above they are the CYSTOTRON(TM) for urinary
incontinence, the ANOTRON(TM) for fecal incontinence and the BIDDS(TM) GLOVE used by physicians as a diagnostic
tool for the Cystotron and Anotron. Contact Jack Paller at 215-646-7100, or our web site ''www.biosonics.com'' for more
information.
SOURCE: Biosonics, Inc. |
