HRS Focuses on Imminent Impact of Pulsed Field Ablation

March 8, 2024 – With the culmination of many clinical trials, recent and pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and growing clinical interest, pulsed field ablation (PFA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation has garnered a great deal of attention in the field of cardiology, especially electrophysiology.

The use of PFA for the treatment of atrial fibrillation has proven effectiveness and safety, and its expanding use in the field of EP has raised concern about proper reimbursement after insurers recently announcing PFA as “experimental or investigational” and, therefore, not medically necessary for various uses, including for ablation of cardiac arrhythmias.

While receiving FDA approval (and other regulatory approval around the world), the costs of PFA systems are expected to be significant (like other new technologies), and cost efficiencies have not yet been determined, which may influence coverage decisions by some payors.  As such, providers should encourage their hospital administrators to advise insurers that they plan to use this newly approved technology and to discuss the best way to ensure appropriate authorizations and reimbursement. Hospital administrators should also consider including the cost of PFA technology in their payor contracts to ensure appropriate reimbursement.

HRS is preparing a letter template to support the use of PFA technology for atrial fibrillation that providers can use to obtain pre-authorization or appeal claim denials.  In addition, HRS recently released a new PFA education series on the Heart Rhythm 365 online portal designed exclusively for physicians — Curated Content for EPs!

Available Resources

• Health Policy: HRS and Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA)
• HeartRhythm 365: Curated Content for EPs – Pulsed Field Ablation