ImpediMed’s (ASX: IPD) L-Dex® U400 device will receive greater coverage in the U.S. as an aid in the clinical assessment of unilateral lymphoedema of the arm in females, following the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
As a result of the passing of the Act, which makes certain indigenous tribes and organisations eligible to access the health plans for federal employees, ImpediMed expects an increase in covered lives for federal healthcare plans from 1 May 2012.
The estimated number of employees of indigenous tribes or organisations who are eligible to access federal health plans is about 350,000.
Direct family members of these employees are also eligible and include spouse and children up to the age of 26.
As a result, coverage under federal plans could be expected to increase by an estimated 700,000 covered lives.
Lymphoedema occurs when the lymphatic system does not work properly, resulting in the long-term swelling of parts of the body.
Stanford Breast Cancer Lymphedema Registry
Meanwhile, the first patient has been enrolled into the Stanford Breast Cancer Lymphedema Registry.
Stanford University Medical Center initiated the registry which will collect and analyse data from breast centres and physicians’ offices across the U.S.
The registry collects clearly defined health and demographic information on patients with specific health characteristics, in this case, breast cancer.
The Stanford Breast Cancer Lymphedema Registry has been designed to investigate the impact of lymphoedema surveillance upon breast cancer survivors.
Within a year, researchers expect to have gained further substantial insights into the value of systematic early surveillance to prevent and minimise the lymphoedema risk in women treated for breast cancer.
Patient enrolment will increase in the coming months as the registry is rolled out to physician sites.
Data generated from ImpediMed’s L-Dex® U400 device will make-up one arm of the registry.
The L-Dex® U400 device is the first medical device with a US Food and Drug Administration clearance to aid health care professionals, clinically assess secondary unilateral lymphoedema of the arm and leg in women and the leg in men.