Gastroenterological & Surgical Clinical Society Support

Several key professional associations have announced society support for the TIF procedure with EsophyX device:

American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) [1]

“The three‐year plus evidence is sufficient to demonstrate sustainable improvement in health outcomes, symptom relief, decrease in PPI utilization and improvement in esophageal pH with transoral fundoplication.”

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) [2]

“ARS is appropriate for individuals who: “(1) Failed medical management, (2) have complications of GERD and (3) have extra-esophageal manifestations (asthma, hoarseness, cough, chest pain, aspiration).”

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) [3]

“Endoluminal antireflux techniques represent potentially new therapeutic indications for GI endoscopy.”

American Society of General Surgeons (ASGS) [4]

“Transoral fundoplication adheres to fundamental surgical principles. We also believe that there is a sufficient body of peer-reviewed literature that establishes transoral fundoplication as reasonable and medically necessary for a subset of patients who are candidates for surgical fundoplication; specifically, patients who either cannot obtain satisfactory relief from standard PPI therapy or who wish to avoid a lifetime of dependence on such medications, and present with a 2 centimeter or smaller hiatal hernia.”

The American Medical Association (AMA) [5]

“The new CPT code, which includes a procedure descriptor associated with the TIF procedure, took effect January 1, 2016. The application for the new code was jointly sponsored by four key specialty medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).”

American Foregut Society [6]

“The American Foregut Society (AFS) Board has concluded that there are sufficient data supporting TIF 2.0 as a safe and effective treatment for GERD in properly selected patients. Furthermore, the body of evidence is such that the EsophyX™ device and TIF 2.0 procedure is not investigational and should be covered by all payor organizations as it is by Medicare.”

References:

[1] American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). Technology Coverage Statement on Minimally Invasive Surgical Options for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – April 2016.

[2] Stefanidis D, et al. Guidelines for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Surg Endosc. 2010;24:2647-49.

[3] ASGE Standards of Practice Committee, Muthusamy VR, Lightdale JR, Acosta RD, Chandrasekhara V, Chathadi KV, Eloubeidi MA, Fanelli RD, Fonkalsrud L, Faulx AL, Khashab MA, Saltzman JR, Shaukat A, Wang A, Cash B, DeWitt JM. The role of endoscopy in the management of GERD. Gastrointest Endosc. 2015;81(6):1305-10.

[4] American Society of General Surgeons (ASGS). Position statement: Transoral fundoplication. 2011.

[5] The American Medical Association (AMA) created a new Category I Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code—43210: EGD Esophagogastric Fundoplasty procedures.

[6] American Foregut Society