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Where can I get a PAE in the US? Are they covered under Medicare?

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alan1951
alan1951

Someone told me PAEs are now covered under Medicare in the U.S.  Could have sworn the procedure was still in clincial trials.  Was wondering what the story is.  Have heard mostly good things about the procedure.  Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • glenn77
    glenn77 alan1951

    Posted

    There is someone in N. Virginia doing them.  And the Universtiy of North Carolina Medical Center is running a study.  This site doesn't allow links, so do a search on "unc pae procedure".   If you can get accepted, there's a major airport (RDU) nearby ( about 30 minutes)  so it should be easy to get to.  Good luck.

  • stebrunner
    stebrunner alan1951

    Posted

    Alan,

    I just had my PAE done last week in Denver with Dr. Charles Nutting. He's with RIA Endovascular. My Blue Cross Insurance declined to cover the proceduring, saying that Medicare doesn't cover it. I opted to pay out of pocket. I have heard that Medicare is paying for clinical trials. If you go the thread on this side about PAEs and who's had them, you can find out more info on who's doing them in the U.S. I'll be posting more about my experience on that thread.

    Stebrunner 

  • ScottFree
    ScottFree alan1951

    Posted

    Tampa General Hospital doing them with USF Medical School.  I think you can find info at PAE@TGH dot ORG.  They are enrolling for a clinical trial to test results against Turp.  I understood, if accepted you get it done for free BUT 1/3 of patients get a Turp.  I guess you find out AFTER the fact.  They are approved to do outside of the trial, I have a consult next week.  Some Insurance pays.  The recent medium and long term trial studied results for 600+ patients who started as far back as 2009.  They showed ZERO complications with incontinence as sexual disfunction due to the proceedure.  And only 2 patients had serious complications due to the proceedure.  It was still something like 75% effective 6 years after for those that had it done first.  I tried posting that followup abstact on this site but have not seen it come though yet.
    • ScottFree
      ScottFree

      Posted

      Between March 2009 and October 2014, 630 consecutive patients with BPH and moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms refractory to medical therapy for at least 6 months or who refused any medical therapy underwent PAE. Outcome parameters were evaluated at baseline; 1, 3, and 6 months; every 6 months between 1 and 3 years; and yearly thereafter up to 6.5 years.

      Results

      Mean patient age was 65.1 years ± 8.0 (range, 40–89 y). There were 12 (1.9%) technical failures. Bilateral PAE was performed in 572 (92.6%) patients and unilateral PAE was performed in 46 (7.4%) patients. The cumulative clinical success rates at medium- and long-term follow-up were 81.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.3%–84.9%) and 76.3% (95% CI, 68.6%–82.4%). There was a statistically significant (P < .0001) change from baseline to last observed value in all clinical parameters: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QOL), prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen, urinary maximal flow rate, postvoid residual, and International Index of Erectile Function. There were 2 major complications without sequelae.

      Conclusions

      PAE had a positive effect on IPSS, QOL, and all objective outcomes in symptomatic BPH. The medium- (1–3 y) and long-term (> 3–6.5 y) clinical success rates were 81.9% and 76.3%, with no urinary incontinence or sexual dysfunction reported

  • peter_77562
    peter_77562 alan1951

    Posted

    where is the followup information thread that you mentioned?
  • hank1953
    hank1953 alan1951

    Posted

    Dr Picel of UCSD in San Diego is doing a PAE trials. He said Medicare is paying. Hank
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