Novocure’s Optune receives positive coverage decision from Humana

Novocure, an oncology company based in Portsmouth, N.H., announced today that its portable, noninvasive brain tumor device Optune will now be covered by Humana, which becomes the ninth commercial payer in the U.S. to issue a positive coverage policy for the treatment.

That makes the device available to more than 107 million people across the United States, the company said in a press release.

Optune utilizes “tumor-treating fields”—alternating electric fields created within a tumor to prevent normal mitotic processes and cause cancer cell death—to deliver therapy to patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma.

Read the full press release here.

John Hocter,

Digital Editor

With nearly a decade of experience in print and digital publishing, John serves as Content Marketing Manager. His professional skill set includes feature writing, content marketing and social media strategy. A graduate of The Ohio State University, John enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, along with a number of surprisingly mischievous indoor cacti.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.