ReWalk chalks up reimbursement win for exoskeleton system

ReWalk Robotics (NSDQ:RWLK) said today it won coverage and reimbursement for its ReWalk Personal exoskeleton systems from a commercial health plan in the Northwest region of the U.S.

The approval was made following the ruling of an independent review organization that overturned an initial denial of coverage. The Israeli comapny said the beneficiary in the overturned case is a spinal cord injury victim ho will use the device to ambulate both at work and at home.

“The ruling by the independent medical organization marks an important moment for exoskeletons being accepted as protocol technology for those with spinal cord injury. Health benefit providers have historically been hesitant to acknowledge the clinical benefits in their case assessments.  This ruling, and subsequent coverage and reimbursement will help ReWalk in our efforts to facilitate greater patient access to the device,” CEO Larry Jasinski said in prepared remarks.

ReWalk Robotics said that the overturned ruling came based on a review of the “most up-to-date published studies and clinical evidence demonstrating the clinical benefits that stem from the use of the ReWalk,” according to a press release.

The independent reviewer also noted that the ReWalk system was not experimental or investigational tech, and cited “sufficient evidence found in current peer-reviewed medical literature to support the use of the ReWalk device in patients with spinal cord injury.

Earlier this month, ReWalk Robotics said the Department of Veterans Affairs released details of a planned 4-year, national, multi-center study of ReWalk’s Personal 6.0 exoskeleton systems.

The aptly named Exoskeleton Assisted-Walking in Persons with SCI: Impact on Quality of Life study is slated to enroll 160 patients at 6 participating VA Medical Centers across California, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.

ReWalk Robotics said the VA plans to initiate the study in October this year.

In January, ReWalk Robotics said the VA awarded a delivery order to the Veterans Healthcare Supply Solutions for its Robotic Exoskeleton systems to use in the upcoming 4-year trial.

The company said it has already shipped 6 of those systems for the trial.

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