Kerecis Fish-Skin Treatment Receives Medicare "Q" Code

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND and ISAFJORDUR, ICELAND--(Marketwired - Nov 12, 2014) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded a "Q" code to the new tissue-regeneration material from Kerecis Limited. This means that claims for this product can be easily identified and processed by Medicare and private insurance companies. The new Q4158 code was announced in the November 10th issue of the Federal Register.

The Medicare code describes Kerecis Omega3 Wound, which is indicated for the management of chronic wounds including diabetic, vascular and other hard-to-heal wounds. The product has been placed in the lower-cost, Bioengineered Skin Substitutes category for Medicare payment.

"This announcement is good news for Medicare patients suffering from chronic wounds and is another major milestone for our company," said G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, President and CEO, Kerecis Limited. "We are proud to participate in a program that provides affordable health care for so many."

The Kerecis Omega3 tissue-regeneration material is produced in Iceland from fish harvested in the North Atlantic. The Omega3 material is intact fish-skin sheets that have had all cells and antigenic materials removed. Fish skin is largely made from the same material as human skin, with the addition of Omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

When inserted into or onto damaged human tissue, the Kerecis Omega3 material recruits the body's own cells, is incorporated into the wound, and ultimately is converted into functional, living tissue.

About Kerecis

Kerecis develops tissue-regeneration biologic matrixes consisting of patented Omega3-containing fish skin. Production takes place in the Kerecis manufacturing facilities in Iceland. Biologic matrixes are materials made from human or animal tissue where the original material is intact, but all cells and antigenic materials have been removed. The Kerecis fish-skin material accelerates wound healing and enables tissue reconstruction.

This FDA-approved material offers advantages over existing human- and porcine-derived products, including improved manufacturing economics and a lower risk of disease transfer. Since it is derived from fish, the material is both kosher and halal compatible, eliminating cultural and religious constraints to usage, with equivalent or better clinical performance than alternative approaches.

The Kerecis technology has received U.S. patents, and has patents pending in multiple countries around the world. The materials are available in Iceland, Germany, the UK, Turkey and several Middle East and Asian markets. Distributor inquiries are welcome. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com.