ReWalk issues PR release on VA's agreement to evaluate exoskeletons for vets with spinal cord injury

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-department-veterans-affairs-issues-140000925.html


U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Issues National Coverage Policy for ReWalk Robotics Exoskeleton Systems for Qualifying Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury

Landmark Policy Will Provide Veterans Across the U.S. with Access to Evaluation, Training and Supply of ReWalk Personal Systems

PR Newswire
ReWalk Robotics
18 hours ago


YOKNEAM ILIT, Israel and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ReWalk Robotics Ltd. (RWLK) ("ReWalk&quot , the leading global exoskeleton developer and manufacturer, announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA&quot has issued a national policy for the evaluation, training and procurement of ReWalk Personal exoskeleton systems for all qualifying veterans across the United States. The VA policy, which is exclusive to ReWalk Robotics exoskeleton systems, is the first national coverage policy in the United States for qualifying individuals who have suffered spinal cord injury ("SCI&quot .
(snip)

The comprehensive policy put forth by the VA provides veterans with spinal cord injury access to referral and evaluation at all designated ReWalk Training Centers across the country. Veterans who meet the physical criteria for ReWalk will be referred for training on the use of the device. Successful candidates will then be eligible to obtain a ReWalk Personal system.

"We are also very pleased that the VA's fundamental clinical research conclusively demonstrated that there are significant medical benefits associated with enabling an individual with a spinal cord injury to walk again," Jasinski said. "Based on their data, the VA's national policy now defines use of an exoskeleton as the standard of care for qualifying veterans with spinal cord injury. We are hopeful the VA policy will pave the way for additional positive national coverage decisions."

ReWalk is the only FDA cleared exoskeleton system in the U.S., with clearances for both personal use at home and in the community, as well as for the rehabilitation setting.

Some additional details of the new VA national policy:
•Veterans with SCI may be evaluated for use of the device at one of the 24 Veterans Health Administration SCI Centers nationwide, according to detailed protocols.
•All SCI Centers are encouraged to pursue designation as a ReWalk Training Center.
•Once preliminary criteria for ReWalk training are met, the veteran will be referred to a VA SCI Center designated as a VA ReWalk Training Center.
•Training begins on an outpatient basis and proceeds to the home or community settings.
•Successful training by an individual will be followed by consideration of procurement for a personal unit for use at home and in the community.
(snip)