What is Stretta procedure in GERD?

What Is the Stretta Procedure? Esophagus reconstruction with the Stretta® device uses low-frequency heat to reshape the ring of muscles in your lower esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter). This helps restore your natural reflux barrier. Experts at Stanford were among the first in the country performing this procedure.

Who qualifies for stretta?

Stretta is considered appropriate therapy in a select group of patients being treated for chronic GERD who are 18 years of age or older, who have had symptoms of chronic GERD, heartburn, regurgitation, or both for 6 months or more, who have been partially or completely refractory to antisecretory pharmacologic therapy.

How is the Stretta procedure performed?

A Stretta procedure lasts about 60 minutes. You will be sedated with anesthesia. During the procedure, a specialist inserts a tube down your throat to the muscles that connect the throat to the stomach. This tube sends mild radio waves to the tissue where the esophagus joins the stomach..

What is a stretta device?

The STRETTA catheter is a specially designed, FDA approved, device with a balloon and four needles. The catheter is connected to a control module, which delivers precisely monitored and controlled amounts of radio-frequency energy to the lower esophageal sphincter muscle or LES.

Does insurance cover Stretta procedure?

Private payers such as Highmark, and Medicare providers such as Novitas continue to cover Stretta Therapy. Veterans Administration patients nationwide have long had access to Stretta Therapy.

Is the Stretta procedure a surgery?

The Stretta® procedure is an incision-less outpatient surgery that offers GERD patients an alternative to more invasive treatment when their acid reflux is not well controlled by medication.

Is Stretta covered by insurance?

What is LINX procedure?

Northwestern Medicine is pleased to offer LINX®, a new laparoscopic procedure to treat GERD. This procedure involves a string of metal beads that are drawn together by a magnet. When this string is placed around the lower esophagus, the magnet pulls the beads together and closes off the esophagus from the stomach.

Is Stretta procedure covered by Medicare?

Stretta, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure eligible for Medicare reimbursement, provides a safe way for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to potentially eliminate the condition’s unwanted effects and avoid a lifetime of taking medication.

What is the CPT code for LINX procedure?

For the July 2015 update, the CPT Editorial Panel established CPT code 0392T to describe the LINX Reflux Management System.

Who is a good candidate for Linx?

Candidates for the LINX reflux management systems are patients ages 21-75 with typical symptoms of GERD for six months taking daily proton pump inhibitors (PPI) who continue to have symptoms. Diagnosis of GERD is defined by abnormal pH testing.

What is a stretta procedure?

How does the Stretta procedure treat reflux?

The whole point of Stretta is to stimulate that muscle to strengthen and to get it working as it should be. The process should make the muscle stronger and thicker which should directly help with preventing reflux and LPR symptoms.

What is the CPT code for an unlisted procedure?

A. There is no special code for hand-assisted laparoscopy procedures. Use the appropriate specific laparoscopy CPT® code for the procedure or the unlisted laparoscopy CPT® codes for the appropriate organ. If there is no unlisted laparoscopy code, use code 53899, Unlisted procedure, urinary system.

What is CPT procedure?

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a medical code set that is used to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures and services to entities such as physicians, health insurance companies and accreditation organizations.