Wound Care News

By the WoundSource Editors

COLUMBIA, MD – February 2, 2016 – Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR), a leading cellular and regenerative medicine company focused on developing and marketing products to treat conditions in wound care, orthopaedics and sports medicine, announced this week that all eight Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have confirmed coverage for the treatment of chronic wounds with Grafix®, a cryopreserved placental membrane. These eight separate MACs provide Medicare benefits to over 54 million beneficiaries. Effective March 2016, Grafix is now available for 100 percent of the 54 million Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries.

By the WoundSource Editors

Columbus, OH – January 13, 2016 – Details regarding a breakthrough medical discovery with tremendous potential for treatment of patients with serious bacterial infections were presented on January 12th, 2016 to pharmaceutical leaders and public and private investors attending the Medtech Showcase in San Francisco.

By The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders

TheAlliance of Wound Care Stakeholders' (Alliance) quarterly update provides an overview of ongoing advocacy initiatives to ensure access, coverage and payment to wound care procedures and technologies for patients. This update includes current action items, updates on key areas of focus from the past quarter (Q3: July – September 2015), and future issues the Alliance is tracking that are of importance to the wound care community, including clinicians who may be impacted by policy changes.

By the WoundSource Editors

Gaithersburg, MD – November 2, 2015 - Nuo Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQX:NUOT), a pioneer in biodynamic therapies, today announced the Aurix™ System reimbursement rate under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) for the calendar year 2016 has been published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Aurix was placed in Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) 5054 (Level 4 Skin Procedures) and will be reimbursed at a national average rate of $1,411 per application effective January 1, 2016. In the text of the ruling, CMS commented they believe the geometric mean cost of the services underlying Aurix is comparable to the geometric mean cost of APC 5054.

By the WoundSource Editors

Washington, DC – According to the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guidelines; "Pressure Ulcers increase hospital costs significantly. In the US, pressure ulcer care is estimated to approach $11 billion (USD) annually, with a cost of between $500 (USD) and $70,000 (USD) per individual pressure ulcer."

By the WoundSource Editors

October 21, 2015 – ARANZ Medical (www.aranzmedical.com) has won a United Nations-sponsored international award recognizing innovations that benefit the development of communities. The company, which produces advanced wound assessment and information management technologies, won a 2015 World Summit Award in the Health and Environment category.

By the WoundSource Editors

Southampton, PA – September 24, 2015 – Environmental Tectonics Corporation (OTC Pink: ETCC) announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a noteworthy patent, U.S. Patent No. 9,138,366, which covers certain hyperbaric chambers with undercarriage-gurney-storage compartments, such as those available on ETC's BARA-MED® Select™ chamber.

By The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders

The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders submitted two sets of formal written comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during September 2015 in response to the proposed updates to CMS' outpatient payment rates and to the physician payment schedule. The Alliance's comments focused on provisions that have potential impact to wound care. These proposed rules have important implications to health care providers and health care administrators as CMS sets future reimbursement for services and procedures.

By Michel H.E. Hermans, MD

Most of us will treat wounds primarily with Western-medicine techniques and materials, though, occasionally a "side step" is made. MEBO Wound Ointment is a non-Western, botanical cream that is used in the Middle East and the Far East for the management of partial-thickness burns. Although the exact working mechanisms of the ointment are not known, results often are good and some Western physicians have adopted its use.

By the WoundSource Editors

September 8, 2015 – DermaRite®, manufacturers of cost effective advanced wound care, skin care and nutritional supplements for health and senior-care facilities, is proud to introduce their Healing In D.E.P.T.H. program.