New ICD-10-CM Code by the World Health Organization Paves the Way for Improved NAFLD Diagnostics Including ENDRA Life Sciences’ TAEUS System
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Insights
The recent inclusion of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) under the ICD-10 K76.0 code is a significant development for companies like ENDRA Life Sciences Inc., which specialize in diagnostic technologies. NAFLD is a growing global health concern and the standardization of its diagnosis through the ICD-10 coding system can lead to increased utilization of diagnostic services like ENDRA's TAEUS® system. This system, which is awaiting FDA approval, could see an uptick in demand due to the formal recognition of NAFLD in medical billing and insurance documentation.
The broader implications of this development include a potential increase in the early detection and management of liver diseases. By facilitating standardized billing, healthcare providers may be more inclined to adopt advanced diagnostic technologies, which could improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with late-stage liver disease complications. Moreover, the acknowledgment of NAFLD in the reimbursement landscape could drive further investment and innovation within the diagnostic sector, potentially leading to enhanced competition and improved technologies.
The adoption of the ICD-10 code for NAFLD diagnosis has economic implications for the healthcare industry. Firstly, it streamlines the reimbursement process for diagnostic procedures related to NAFLD, potentially leading to increased healthcare spending in this area. For companies like ENDRA Life Sciences, this could translate into higher revenue streams if their diagnostic systems become widely adopted. Additionally, the formal recognition of NAFLD as a reimbursable condition could incentivize healthcare providers to invest in new technologies, contributing to the overall growth of the healthcare market.
However, it is essential to monitor the cost-effectiveness of these new technologies to ensure they provide value for money and do not contribute to unnecessary healthcare inflation. The long-term economic benefits of early NAFLD detection and management could be substantial, potentially reducing the burden of more costly interventions required for advanced liver disease. From an economic standpoint, the key will be balancing the upfront costs of innovative diagnostics with the downstream savings from improved health outcomes.
The market for liver disease diagnostics is likely to expand with the formal recognition of NAFLD in the ICD-10 coding framework. This change could serve as a catalyst for market growth, as it directly impacts the financial incentives for healthcare providers to diagnose and manage NAFLD. For ENDRA Life Sciences, the market potential for their TAEUS® system could significantly increase, especially if the FDA grants approval.
Analyzing the competitive landscape, ENDRA may face increased competition as other companies recognize the growing market opportunity. Strategic partnerships, continued innovation and effective marketing will be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Additionally, the company's global patent estate indicates a strong position to capitalize on both current and future clinical applications, potentially leading to a diversified revenue stream and a robust market presence.
Code Complements Important Advancements by the Pharmaceutical Industry and Revised Medical Association Guidelines
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), is a global coding system used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. These codes are issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are used to show payers why a particular service was medically necessary. The inclusion of NAFLD under the ICD-10 K76.0 code facilitates standardized billing for its diagnosis. It is applicable across the
ENDRA believes the issuance of the ICD-10 K76.0 code specifically for NAFLD measurement represents a significant opportunity for innovation in liver health diagnostics as healthcare providers now have a clearer pathway to integrate advanced diagnostic technologies. This encourages the adoption of state-of-the-art methods such as ENDRA's TAEUS liver fat measurement system or service, thereby improving patient access to essential healthcare services and emphasizing the importance of early detection and management of liver diseases.
"As we witness a rising prevalence of NAFLD globally, the inclusion of this condition in the ICD-10 coding framework marks a critical step toward better healthcare outcomes," said Jing Gao, M.D., FAIUM, Professor of Ultrasound at Rocky Vista University and Adjunct Professor of Research in Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. "This positive development is testament to the growing awareness of liver health and the intensifying need for effective diagnostic solutions. Along with tremendous clinical advancements with therapeutics targeting liver disease, it paves the way for enhanced patient care and a healthier future for individuals at risk of liver diseases."
The pharmaceutical industry continues to make important clinical and regulatory advancements in their commitment to addressing the large and growing unmet market opportunity of liver disease, including a drug candidate under review by the FDA that has the potential to become the first therapeutic approved for NASH.
Medical associations have also heightened their focus on screening for NAFLD, as evidenced by the following:
- In June 2023, the American Diabetes Association updated their Standards of Care in Diabetes [Section 4.11a] to state, “Adults with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, particularly those with obesity or cardiometabolic risk factors/established cardiovascular disease should be screened/risk stratified for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with clinically significant fibrosis (defined as moderate fibrosis to cirrhosis) using a calculated fibrosis-4 index (derived from age, ALT, AST, and platelets), even if they have normal liver enzymes.”
- Similarly, in March 2022 the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings to state, “Clinicians should consider persons with obesity and/or features of metabolic syndrome, those with prediabetes or T2D, and those with hepatic steatosis on any imaging study and/or persistently elevated plasma aminotransferase levels to be ‘high risk’ and screen for NAFLD and advanced fibrosis.”
“ENDRA is dedicated to advancing liver health diagnostics through innovation,” stated Francois Michelon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ENDRA. “With a robust global patent estate supporting a portfolio of current and future clinical applications, along with a commitment to research and development, ENDRA is poised to lead the charge in combating NAFLD and improving liver health outcomes worldwide.
“The acknowledgment of NAFLD in the reimbursement landscape not only benefits patients by enhancing access to diagnostic services, but also signals a broader shift toward more proactive and preventive healthcare measures. It is a call to action for the medical community to prioritize liver health, and for the developers of diagnostic tools to support healthcare providers through innovative technologies,” he concluded.
About ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.
ENDRA Life Sciences is the pioneer of Thermo Acoustic Enhanced UltraSound (TAEUS®), a ground-breaking technology, which characterizes tissue like MRI, but at 1/50th the cost and at the point of patient care. TAEUS® is initially focused on the measurement of fat in the liver as a means to assess and monitor Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) (formerly known as NAFLD-NASH), a chronic liver spectrum that affects over two billion people globally, and for which there are no practical diagnostic tools. Beyond the liver, ENDRA is exploring several other clinical applications of TAEUS®, including visualization of tissue temperature during energy-based surgical procedures. For more information, please visit www.endrainc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of terms such as “approximate,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or other comparable terms (including the negative of any of the foregoing), although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Examples of forward-looking statements for ENDRA include, among others: estimates of the timing of future events and anticipated results of its development efforts, including the timing of submission for and receipt of required regulatory approvals and product launches and sales; statements relating to future financial position and projected costs and revenue; expectations concerning ENDRA’s business strategy; and statements regarding ENDRA’s ability to find and maintain development partners. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, among others: the ability to raise additional capital in order to continue as a going concern; the ability to obtain regulatory approvals necessary to sell ENDRA medical devices in certain markets in a timely manner, or at all; the ability to develop a commercially feasible technology and its dependence on third parties to design and manufacture its products; ENDRA’s ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing standards; ENDRA’s dependence on its senior management team; market acceptance of ENDRA’s technology and the amount and nature of competition in its industry; ENDRA’s ability to protect its intellectual property; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of issuance, and ENDRA assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.
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Source: ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.
FAQ
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