American Shared Hospital Services Announces 2014 Gamma Knife Reimbursement Rates Proposed by CMS
AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES (NYSE MKT:AMS), a
leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced
radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, announced today that the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the proposed
rule for Medicare's hospital outpatient prospective payment system for
calendar year 2014. Within this proposed rule, CMS proposes updates for
the delivery codes used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), including
Gamma Knife services.
CMS proposes to reimburse hospitals for a complete course of treatment
comprised of a single session of SRS at $8,576 in 2014. This payment
level would apply to single session treatment for all forms of SRS –
Cobalt-60 SRS (Gamma Knife), robotic linear accelerator (LINAC) SRS or
non-robotic LINAC SRS. By comparison, effective April 1, 2013, the Gamma
Knife was reimbursed by CMS at $3,300 and during the period January 1,
2013 to March 31, 2013 at $7,910. This CMS proposed reimbursement rate
is subject to comments from interested parties, and could change. Final
CMS reimbursement rates are anticipated to be issued in fall 2013.
About AMS
American Shared Hospital Services provides turnkey technology solutions
for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services. AMS is the
world leader in providing Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment, a
non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular
malformations and trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain). The Company also
offers the latest IGRT and IMRT systems, as well as its proprietary
Operating Room for the 21st CenturySM concept. AMS owns
common stock in Mevion Medical Systems, Inc., developer of the compact
MEVION S250™ Proton Therapy System.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may be deemed to contain certain forward-looking
statements with respect to the financial condition, results of
operations and future plans of American Shared Hospital Services, which
involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks
of the Gamma Knife and radiation therapy businesses, the risks of
developing The Operating Room for the 21st Century program, and the
risks of investing in a development-stage company, Mevion Medical
Systems, Inc., without a proven product. Further information on
potential factors that could affect the financial condition, results of
operations and future plans of American Shared Hospital Services is
included in the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2012, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended on March 31, 2012, and the definitive Proxy Statement for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 7, 2012.
Copyright Business Wire 2013