Medtronic plc announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted transitional pass-through (TPT) payment for the Medtronic Symplicity Spyral™ renal denervation (RDN) catheter. This catheter is used in the Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure. The TPT payment, effective for up to three years starting January 1, 2025, aims to support patient access to new and innovative technology, including devices granted Breakthrough Device Designations like the Symplicity Spyral RDN system.
Significance of TPT Approval
Jason Weidman, senior vice president and president of the Coronary and Renal Denervation business within the Cardiovascular Portfolio at Medtronic, stated that receiving TPT approval for their RDN catheter is an important milestone. It will enable greater patient access to a breakthrough treatment by reducing cost barriers for healthcare systems. He also mentioned that very few technologies achieve this qualification, and the core goals of fostering innovation and increasing access mirror Medtronic's desire to continue bringing Symplicity to even more patients suffering from uncontrolled high blood pressure.
The Symplicity Spyral RDN System
The Medtronic Symplicity Spyral RDN System, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023, is a minimally invasive procedure. It delivers radiofrequency energy to nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and contribute to high blood pressure. The procedure involves inserting a single thin tube (catheter) into the artery leading to the kidney. Once in place, the doctor administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves connected to the kidney. The tube is then removed, leaving no implant behind.
Addressing Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading modifiable cause of heart attack, stroke, and death. Despite available medications and lifestyle interventions, control rates remain low. The prevalence of hypertension underscores the importance for availability of adjunctive treatment options that patients may benefit from to better manage their blood pressure.
Clinical Support and Global Use
Supporting TPT approval is the Medtronic SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program, which is the most comprehensive clinical program studying RDN in the presence and absence of medication, and in patients with both high and lower baseline cardiovascular risk. The Symplicity Spyral RDN System is approved for commercial use in more than 75 countries around the world and is backed by experience in more than 25,000 patients treated globally with the Symplicity blood pressure procedure. The Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system is limited for investigational use in Japan.
About the Transitional Pass-Through Program
The purpose of the TPT program is to support access to newly approved innovative technologies where the costs to adopt them may otherwise inhibit patient access. The TPT program reduces barriers for Medicare beneficiaries to access critical healthcare innovations shortly after products receive FDA approval by providing hospitals with additional payments to cover their costs, while allowing CMS to collect necessary cost data to determine future outpatient payments.
