Apollo Endosurgery has gained the assignment of Category I Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes with short form descriptor esophagogastroduodenoscopy with deployment of gastric bariatric device under endoscopic guidance for procedures that use the Intragastric Balloon starting 1 January 2023.
"A number of physician and surgical societies worked collaboratively on this effort. We extend our appreciation to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for their continued leadership efforts to advocate on behalf of their members and the patients they serve," said Dr. Christopher Gostout, Chief Medical Officer of Apollo.
Orbera is an incision-less, non-surgical weight loss solution designed for adult patients suffering from obesity, who are not appropriate for or considering surgery, but for whom diet, and exercise or pharmaceutical interventions have not worked.
In a non-surgical (endoscopic) procedure, the thin and deflated Orbera balloon is placed into the stomach. It is then filled with saline until it's about the size of a grapefruit. The procedure typically takes about 20 minutes and the patient can generally go home a few hours later. After up to 6 months, through another non-surgical procedure, the Orbera balloon is deflated and then removed.
Once the balloon is in place, the patient works with their physician and their staff in a formal lifestyle modification program to meet their long-term weight loss goals. Coaching takes place over 12 months while the balloon is in place. The program is designed to help the patient develop sustainable, healthy habits that will help keep weight off over time.
"We are pleased by the AMA's decision to create category I CPT codes to identify the intragastric balloon procedure, which represents another milestone for patients seeking treatment for obesity with a BMI between 30-40 kg/m2. The AMA CPT decision is a positive reflection of the significant clinical evidence supporting the Orbera® Intragastric Balloon, with more than 230 peer-reviewed clinical publications and over 300,000 balloons distributed worldwide," said Chas McKhann, CEO of Apollo.