Reykjavik / Isafjordur, November 12, 2014 – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded a “Q” code to the new tissue-regeneration material from Kerecis Limited. This means that claims for this product can be easily identified and processed by Medicare and private insurance companies. The new Q4158 code was announced in the November 10 issue of the Federal Register.
The Medicare code describes Kerecis Omega3 Wound, which is indicated for the management of chronic wounds including diabetic, vascular and other hard-to-heal wounds. The product has been placed in the lower-cost, Bioengineered Skin Substitutes category for Medicare payment.
“This announcement is good news for Medicare patients suffering from chronic wounds and is another major milestone for our company,” said G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, founder and CEO, Kerecis. “We are proud to participate in a program that provides affordable health care for so many.”
The Kerecis Omega3 tissue-regeneration material is produced in Iceland from fish harvested in the North Atlantic. The Omega3 material is intact fish-skin sheets that have had all cells and antigenic materials removed. Fish skin is largely made from the same material as human skin, with the addition of Omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
When inserted into or onto damaged human tissue, the Kerecis Omega3 material recruits the body’s own cells, is incorporated into the wound, and ultimately is converted into functional, living tissue.
