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The Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Approved Coverage And Coding For Abdominal Ultrasound With Contrast Under The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) Effective October 1, 2016MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracco Diagnostics Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Bracco Imaging S.p.A., a global leading company in the diagnostic imaging business, today announced that the CMS has approved the request for coverage and coding for liver and/or abdominal ultrasound with contrast under the HOPPS. Effective October 1, 2016, liver and/or abdominal ultrasound procedures with contrast can be assigned Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code C9744, when performed in the hospital outpatient setting.  "Obtaining approval for coding and coverage for contrast enhanced ultrasound is a milestone in the evolution of ultrasound in radiology," said Vittorio Puppo, President and CEO, Bracco Diagnostics Inc. "The U.S. FDA's approval of LUMASON (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) for injectable suspension for the characterization of focal liver lesions on March 31, 2016 enabled us to proceed with a submission for a new technology service for ultrasound of the liver and/or abdomen with contrast." "This approval demonstrates Bracco's leadership and commitment to the imaging community across imaging modality service lines," said Fulvio Renoldi Bracco, Head of Global Business Unit Imaging at Bracco Imaging. "We are proud to be a leader in contrast imaging and delivery systems and of our continuous investment in imaging activities to help improve patient care in the U.S." LUMASON, which has been marketed as SonoVue® for over 14 years in more than 40 countries, is a contrast agent made up of gas-filled microspheres that reflect sound waves to enhance the image in ultrasonography. With a proven safety and efficacy profile in echocardiography and ultrasonography of the liver, LUMASON is packaged in a convenient three-part kit that does not require refrigeration or mechanical agitation. Each kit includes a LUMASON vial containing 25 mg of lipid-type A lyophilized powder and 60.7 mg sulfur hexafluoride headspace; a prefilled syringe containing 5 mL of Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP (Diluent); and a Mini-Spike.1 In late 2015, CMS granted "pass-through" status for LUMASON reimbursement, under the HOPPS. Contrast material is not separately paid by Medicare for outpatient hospitals under outpatient prospective payment systems unless the product has "pass-through" status. This additional payment is unique to LUMASON among contrast agents used in ultrasound procedures. Please see Important Safety Information below. About LUMASON INDICATIONS AND USAGE
CONTRAINDICATIONS
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
The risk for serious cardiopulmonary reactions may be increased among patients with unstable cardiopulmonary conditions (acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary artery syndromes, worsening or unstable congestive heart failure, or serious ventricular arrhythmias) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].1 Please see full Prescribing Information including boxed WARNING at http://imaging.bracco.com/us-en/LUMASON. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. For additional information about Bracco's products, and for full prescribing information, please visit http://imaging.bracco.com/us-en. If you have any questions or require additional information about any Bracco product, please contact Bracco Professional Services at 1-800-257-5181, option 2. LUMASON is manufactured for Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Monroe Township, NJ 08831 by Bracco Suisse SA, Plan-les-Ouates Geneve, Switzerland (LUMASON lyophilized powder vial-25 mg lipid-type A/60.7 sulfur hexafluoride gas); Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG, 88212 Ravensburg, Germany (Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP); B. Braun Melsungen AG, 34212 Melsungen, Germany (Mini-Spike). SonoVue is a registered trademark of Bracco Suisse S.A. 1.LUMASON (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) for injectable suspension full Prescribing Information. Monroe Twp., NJ: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; March, 2016. About Bracco Imaging Bracco Imaging offers a product and solution portfolio for all key diagnostic imaging modalities: X-ray Imaging (including Computed Tomography-CT, Interventional Radiology, and Cardiac Catheterization), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS), and Nuclear Medicine through radioactive tracers. The diagnostic imaging portfolio is completed by a range of medical devices and advanced administration systems for contrast imaging products. The Company operates in over 100 markets worldwide, either directly or indirectly, through subsidiaries, joint ventures, licenses and distribution partnership agreements. With on-going research covering all key modalities, Bracco Imaging has a strong presence in key geographies: North America, Europe and Japan operating through the Joint Venture Bracco-Eisai Co. Ltd. The Company also operates in Brazil, South Korea, and China through the Joint Venture Bracco Sine Pharmaceutical Corp. Ltd. Operational investments have been made in order to achieve top quality, compliant and sustainable eco-friendly production. Manufacturing activities are located in Italy, Switzerland, Japan, China, and Germany. Bracco Imaging is an innovative Research and Development (R&D) structure with an efficient process oriented approach and a track record of innovation in the diagnostic imaging industry. R&D activities are managed in the three Research Centers located in Italy, Switzerland, and the USA. To learn more about Bracco Imaging, visit www.braccoimaging.com. Press Contact: All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160201/327852LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-centers-for-medicare--medicaid-services-cms-approved-coverage-and-coding-for-abdominal-ultrasound-with-contrast-under-the-hospital-outpatient-prospective-payment-system-hopps-effective-october-1-2016-300331862.html SOURCE Bracco Diagnostics Inc. 
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