New CPT code released for AMD treatment

Freemont, CA-A new Category III CPT code was released by the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel. The code for Neovista Inc.'s radiation therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular generation (AMD) (0190T) will become effective July 1 and will be used with the code for performing a basic posterior vitrectomy (67036).

"We at NeoVista believe that our unique radiation therapy will eventually be shown to offer a less-time-consuming and less-costly alternative for physicians who treat patients with wet AMD," said John Hendrick, president and chief executive officer of NeoVista. "Obtaining a Category III CPT code is a vital step towards our end-goal of seeing our therapy through to market launch, where it will be of help to millions of people suffering from wet AMD."

The code will eventually allow physicians to identify the novel epiretinal radiation treatment for wet AMD on insurance claims.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Therapeutic and Radiation Oncology supported Neovista through the code development.