EXTON, Pa., Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaxis, Inc.
today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) has assigned a product-specific billing code, or J-code, for
ARIDOL® (mannitol inhalation powder) Bronchial Challenge Test
Kit. The unique, product-specific billing code, J7665
(mannitol, administered through an inhaler, 5 mg), became effective
on January 1, 2012.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/NY00591 )
ARIDOL, the only dry powder bronchial challenge test approved
for use in the United States, is
used to assess bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients six years
of age and older who do not have clinically apparent asthma.
ARIDOL should not be used as a stand alone test to assess asthma or
as a screening test for asthma, but as part of a physician's
overall assessment of asthma.
J-codes are used by providers to bill Medicare Part B, Medicaid
and most private plans for drugs administered in physicians'
offices and hospital outpatient settings.
"With the ARIDOL-specific J-code in effect, office-based
physicians who would like to use the dry powder bronchial challenge
test and providers who currently use ARIDOL have a product-specific
code to submit to payers which often increases the efficiency of
the reimbursement process," said Stephen
Beckman, President, Pharmaxis, Inc. "In addition, the
ARIDOL test protocol is now incorporated in the software of many
leading spirometers, marking another important milestone for
Pharmaxis."
About ARIDOL
ARIDOL® (mannitol inhalation powder) Bronchial Challenge Test
Kit is a single-use, indirect test that is easy-to-administer,
requires minimal preparation time and a 15% reduction in lung
function from baseline for a positive test.
ARIDOL can be ordered directly from Pharmaxis and is available
to pulmonary function labs and physicians' offices by calling
Pharmaxis Customer Service at 1-888-416-1828.
Indication
Mannitol, the active ingredient in ARIDOL, is a sugar alcohol
indicated for the assessment of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in
patients 6 years of age or older who do not have clinically
apparent asthma.
ARIDOL is not a stand alone test or a screening test for
asthma. Bronchial challenge testing with ARIDOL should be
used only as part of a physician's overall assessment of
asthma.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: RISK OF SEVERE BRONCHOSPASM
Mannitol, the active ingredient in ARIDOL, acts as a
bronchoconstrictor and may cause severe bronchospasm.
Bronchial challenge testing with ARIDOL is for diagnostic purposes
only. Bronchial challenge testing with ARIDOL should only be
conducted by trained professionals under the supervision of a
physician familiar with all aspects of the bronchial challenge test
and the management of acute bronchospasm. Medications (such as
short acting inhaled beta-agonist) and equipment to treat severe
bronchospasm must be present in the testing area. If severe
bronchospasm occurs it should be treated immediately by
administration of a short acting inhaled beta-agonist. Because of
the potential for severe bronchoconstriction, bronchial challenge
testing with ARIDOL should not be performed in any patient with
clinically apparent asthma or very low baseline pulmonary function
tests (e.g., FEV1