While NSI might be clueless in convincing the managed care folks of the tests value, its competitors (notably Neopath) are not. See below:
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NeoPath Announces Reimbursement Determinations From Major Payers for the AutoPap 300 QC System
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 1998--NeoPath, Inc. (NASDAQ:NPTH) announced today that major health care payers, including a large number of Blues plans, have issued determinations to reimburse laboratories for use of the AutoPap 300 QC System under the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 88152/88158.
The payers include: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arkansas, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Colorado, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oklahoma, PPO of Michigan, PacifiCare of Colorado, Cigna of New Mexico, Cigna of Texas, Cigna of Missouri (under the preferred provider organizations), and Medical Mutual of Ohio.
NeoPath's AutoPap 300 QC System has been approved since 1995 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a replacement to the federally mandated quality control rescreening of Pap smears. Earlier this week, the FDA approved NeoPath's AutoPap Primary Screener System as a primary Pap smear screening device.
"NeoPath is extremely pleased with the coverage decisions made by these health care plans," said Alan C. Nelson, President and CEO. "As additional payers evaluate the clinical benefit of the AutoPap System for their members, we believe that other such determinations will follow. This increased reimbursement represents a significant step forward in improving women's healthcare through the early detection of cervical cancer and is a major step toward providing a single standard of care for all women."
NeoPath, Inc., headquartered in Redmond, Washington, develops visual intelligence technology to improve accuracy in complex medical testing through its unique, proprietary technology that automates the interpretation of medical images. The AutoPap System consists of high-speed video microscopes, specialized visual intelligence software, and ultra-fast morphology computers.
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