MicroTransponder ®, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company and developer of the breakthrough Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System for chronic stroke recovery, today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) assigned the Vivistim procedure to New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) 1580, with an associated national average payment of approximately $45,000 for procedures performed in the outpatient setting. The decision comes as part of CMS’s publication of the 2026 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and the increased payment rate will be effective beginning January 1, 2026.
By establishing a payment level that is aligned with the resources required to support the Vivistim procedure, CMS’s decision helps ensure that hospitals can offer this therapy on a sustainable basis, supporting broader access for Medicare beneficiaries.
“We are pleased with CMS’s decision to assign the Vivistim procedure to New Technology APC 1580, ensuring appropriate reimbursement for this groundbreaking therapy,” said Richard Foust, MicroTransponder’s President and CEO. “This decision underscores the meaningful benefit of Vivistim Paired VNS Therapy and reaffirms that our technology addresses a critical unmet clinical need in stroke recovery. Importantly, this reimbursement change will help ensure access to Vivistim Therapy for eligible Medicare patients at leading stroke centers nationwide.”
To learn more about the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System, visit Vivistim.com/health-pros. Tap to review the clinical bibliography and safety information.
