YOQNEAM, Israel  -- Given Imaging has announced that the Medicare carrier for the states of Ohio and West Virginia, Palmetto GBA, approved reimbursement coverage for Capsule Endoscopy as a primary procedure in the evaluation of signs or symptoms suspected to be indicative of inflammation of the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, and for suspected cancer.

Concurrently, Given Imaging announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has approved reimbursement coverage for Capsule Endoscopy in the initial diagnosis in patients with suspected Crohn's disease following negative conventional diagnostic tests such as endoscopy of the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract.

Both Palmetto, which covers 2.2 million members, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, which covers 3 million members, previously covered use of Capsule Endoscopy only for bleeding suspected to originate in the small intestine, and have now expanded their coverage to include these additional indications.

"Medicare in Ohio and West Virginia is the first in the United States to reimburse for the use of capsule endoscopy as a first line diagnostic tool. This group of patients can now benefit from a definitive diagnosis earlier than ever before," said Gavriel D. Meron, President and CEO of Given Imaging. "We expect the process of expanded reimbursement to continue, and we are pleased that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and Palmetto have now joined this group of payers."

Source: PRNewswire