German Social and Youth Agency Reimburses ReWalk Robotics Exoskeleton for the First Time
YOKNEAM ILIT, Israel, BERLIN and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — ReWalk Robotics Ltd. (Nasdaq: RWLK) and ReWalk Robotics d.b.a. Argo Medical Technologies GmbH (“ReWalk” or “Company”), the leading global exoskeleton developer and manufacturer, announced today that for the first time, a German Social and Youth Agency based in Karlsruhe has reimbursed the ReWalk Personal exoskeleton system for a qualifying user. This approval, which was rendered on appeal, continues the trend of a growing number of health plans and health systems worldwide recognizing the benefits of exoskeletons and providing reimbursement of systems to beneficiaries.
“The reimbursement of the ReWalk system by the Social and Youth Agency of the city of Karlsruhe is another significant milestone for persons with spinal cord injury in Germany,” said Larry Jasinski, ReWalk CEO. “This decision finds ReWalk’s exoskeleton technology to be a medical aid that enables eligible users to participate in daily life through ambulation. It is also, importantly, another critical decision by German agencies and insurers to reimburse powered exoskeleton systems.”
The beneficiary, David Hartmann, suffered a spinal cord injury in 2009 and is a T9 paraplegic. Mr. Hartmann has been relegated to the use of a wheelchair for the seven years following his accident. He was introduced to the ReWalk technology at a trade show in April 2015, and first used the system in June of that year.
Mr. Hartmann originally applied for the costs to be reimbursed by his medical insurance provider, the employer-based health insurance fund MH Plus. MH Plus referred the claim to the Social and Youth Agency of the city of Karlsruhe, which initially rejected the claim, citing alternative methods of mobility such as wheelchairs and public transportation.
In response to an appeal filed on September 1, 2015, the Social and Youth Agency on October 26, 2015 approved reimbursement of the costs for the provision of the ReWalk Personal exoskeleton system, and will reclaim these costs from MH Plus pursuant to § 14 paragraph 4 of the German Social Security Code IX.
ReWalk has consistently demonstrated its commitment to facilitating increased patient access to its device and in this case, worked closely with the beneficiary throughout the reimbursement and appeals process.
“There are no words to describe what it means to me to have my own ReWalk system that is personalized to my own body,” says David Hartmann. “For many years, I thought my diagnosis of paraplegia meant that I would never walk again. Thanks to ReWalk, I am now able to walk independently and to interact with others at eye level.”
In December 2015, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) issued a national policy for the evaluation, training and procurement of ReWalk Personal exoskeleton systems for all qualifying veterans across the United States. In early 2016, a commercial health plan in the Northwest region of the United States approved coverage and reimbursement for a ReWalk Personal exoskeleton system, following the ruling of an external independent review organization that overturned the health plan’s initial denial of coverage.
“Following the acceptance of the costs by health insurers and professional associations, we are pleased that the Social and Youth Agency has now responded positively to the eligibility for reimbursement of the ReWalk system. We cordially invite all interested Social and Youth Agencies to contact our staff if they have any questions regarding the ReWalk system and its eligibility for reimbursement,” Jasinski said.