Insightec, a global healthcare company dedicated to using acoustic energy to transform patient care, today announced that Cigna is the fourth national payor to cover focused ultrasound for treating medication-refractory essential tremor.
“We are so excited to have another national payor providing access to focused ultrasound to non-Medicare patients,” said Dee Kolanek, Insightec Vice President of Market Access and Reimbursement. “We want to extend our thanks to leading insurers like Cigna for their decision to cover this game-changing outpatient treatment for essential tremor patients.”
Essential tremor, a movement disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking, affects an estimated ten million Americans. For patients whose tremor does not respond to medications, focused ultrasound is performed in a single, outpatient procedure with many patients showing immediate improvement of tremor in the treated hand with minimal complications.
“This is important progress towards our goal of expanding access to this transformative treatment option and we want to thank Cigna for their positive coverage decision,” added Maurice R. Ferré MD, Insightec’s CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Now, more patients with essential tremor can get back their ability to live independently, return to work, and improve their mental and physical health.”
Cigna becomes the fourth national payor to cover the treatment after Anthem, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association gave positive coverage decisions in December 2022, April 2021, and August 2018, respectively. There are currently more than 125 treatment centers around the world using Insightec’s Exablate® Neuro platform to treat essential tremor. Focused ultrasound treatment for medication-refractory essential tremor is covered by Medicare in all 50 states.
