REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HeartFlow, Inc. today announced that UnitedHealthcare now covers the HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis, extending access to their 45 million beneficiaries. With this new coverage, more than 235 million people in the United States now have access to the HeartFlow Analysis -- significantly advancing HeartFlow’s mission of transforming cardiovascular care. The HeartFlow Analysis is a non-invasive technology that uses a coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA) to create a personalized 3D model of the heart and simulate blood flow in order to help clinicians diagnose and treat people with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).
In a new coverage decision, UnitedHealthcare also chose to adopt the medical policy for coronary CTA from eviCore, an evidence-based specialty benefits management company. The policy allows for the use of a coronary CTA as a first-line test for symptomatic individuals, removing the need for a standard stress test prior to conducting a coronary CTA. In addition, the HeartFlow Analysis is now approved to further assess coronary disease seen on a coronary CTA that is of uncertain physiological significance.
“This decision by UnitedHealthcare underscores the significant value that the HeartFlow Analysis brings to payers, physicians and patients, from both a clinical and economic standpoint,” said John H. Stevens, M.D., president and chief executive officer of HeartFlow. “Not only is the HeartFlow Analysis now accessible to tens of millions of additional people, but this advancement also positions HeartFlow as an integral part of the standard approach to heart disease diagnosis and treatment.”
CAD affects 16.8 million Americansi and develops when the coronary arteries narrow, reducing blood flow to the heart and potentially causing chest pain (angina), heart attack (myocardial infarction) and death.
About the HeartFlow Analysis
Clinicians diagnosing someone with suspected CAD want to know as definitively as possible if the individual has a significant blockage in their coronary arteries. They also want to know the impact of that blockage on blood flow so they can best determine which treatment pathway is appropriate (e.g., medical management, stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting).
Data from a patient’s non-invasive coronary CTA are securely uploaded from the hospital’s system to the cloud. HeartFlow leverages deep learning to create a personalized, digital 3D model of the patient’s coronary arteries. The HeartFlow Analysis then uses powerful computer algorithms to solve millions of complex equations to simulate blood flow and assess the impact of blockages on coronary blood flow. The HeartFlow Analysis is provided via a secure online interface to offer actionable information to enable clinicians to determine the optimal course of treatment. To date, clinicians around the world have used the HeartFlow Analysis for more than 20,000 patients to aid in the diagnosis of heart disease.
This technology has been demonstrated to reduce unnecessary and invasive diagnostic coronary angiography procedures, which can be associated with bleeding, stroke, major blood vessel damage and other serious complications. It also significantly reduces healthcare costs for hospitals.ii
About HeartFlow, Inc.
HeartFlow, Inc. is a medical technology company transforming the way heart disease is diagnosed and treated. Our non-invasive HeartFlow Analysis leverages deep learning to create a personalized 3D model of the heart. By using this model, clinicians can better evaluate the impact a blockage has on blood flow and determine the best treatment for patients. Our technology is reflective of our Silicon Valley roots and incorporates decades of scientific evidence with the latest advances in artificial intelligence. The HeartFlow Analysis is commercially available in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.heartflow.com.
i https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787400/.
ii Douglas PS, DeBruyne B, Pontone G., Patel MR, et al. One-year outcomes of FFRCT-guided care in patients with suspected coronary disease: The PLATFORM Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68(5),435-45.
