NEWTON, Mass.– Lumicell, Inc., a privately held company focused on developing innovative fluorescence-guided imaging technologies for cancerous tissue detection during surgery, today announced the American Medical Association has granted a Category III, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) add-on code 0945T specifically for intraoperative fluorescence imaging margin assessment following breast cancer lumpectomy.3 The new CPT code is expected to become effective on Jan. 1, 2025.
The purpose of CPT coding is to provide a uniform language that accurately describes medical, diagnostic, and testing services for reliable nationwide communication among physicians and other healthcare providers, patients, and third parties such as payors.
The granting of this add-on code will allow physicians to report their usage of LUMISIGHT™ and Lumicell™ DVS, together referred to as LumiSystem™, to help payors collect claims data for improved access. “This is an important milestone for providers who offer this new adjunctive treatment option to their patients with breast cancer undergoing lumpectomy,” said Howard Hechler, President and Chief Operating Officer, Lumicell. “The Category III code will enable wider commercial access to LumiSystem by facilitating future reimbursement from US government payors and commercial health insurance companies.”
Clinical studies have shown that up to 36% of patients have re-excisions due to positive margins and 14% of patients with negative margins after lumpectomy have cancer remaining.1 With 84% diagnostic accuracy, LumiSystem is the first and only system that enables surgeons to scan inside the breast cavity, in real-time, to detect and resect residual cancer that may have otherwise been left behind.2
“This new CPT code demonstrates positive momentum towards improving patient access to LumiSystem, which will have significant impact on breast cancer surgical outcomes for patients,” said Peter Blumencranz, MD, Medical Director, BayCare Oncology Service Line and The Comprehensive Breast Care Center of Tampa Bay.
