Yet Again, Synvisc Will Not Have To Share Reimbursement Code
BY ARIELLA P. GOLOMB, MD, DECEMBER 15, 2006
In October we reported that Genzyme, maker of the viscosupplement Synvisc, announced a CMS decision grouping all industry viscosupplementation products into the same reimbursement code in January 2007. The coding change meant that reimbursement for viscosupplementation treatments will be based on number of injections, rather than recognizing differences in clinical profiles. Genzyme promised to fight hard to dispute the decision. A coding change could, according to the Company, reduce the reimbursement for Synvisc below its market price, discouraging its use.
Genzyme's efforts have paid off. Today they announced that they will retain a separate reimbursement code and rate for Synvisc in 2007. A similar scenario took place back in November 2005, when CMS reversed an earlier decision to group all of the viscosupplementation products together.
Today's announcement helps to paint a promising future for the next generation viscosupplementation reimbursement, thus incentivizing the continued development of these products.
