Changes for Exoskeleton Reimbursement Under Home Health Prospective Payment System Could Expand Access to Technologies

Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc., a pioneer in exoskeleton technology for both medical and industrial purposes, has expressed its support for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal to incorporate personal exoskeletons into the Medicare benefit category for braces within the revised 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate.
The proposed CMS rule aims to clarify the Medicare Part B benefit for various types of braces, including leg, arm, back, and neck braces, and, importantly, it would categorize certain exoskeleton-type devices as braces for Medicare payment purposes. This development has significant implications for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and companies like Ekso Bionics, which produces the Ekso Indego Personal exoskeleton.
Scott Davis, the CEO of Ekso Bionics, welcomed the proposed rule, emphasizing its potential to facilitate Medicare coverage of personal exoskeletons like the Ekso Indego Personal. If approved, this rule could expand the market for these devices, benefitting a larger number of individuals with SCI. Presently, 56% of the approximately 294,000 individuals with SCI prevalence are covered by Medicare or Medicaid five years after their injury.
The Ekso Indego® Personal is a powered exoskeleton designed to empower individuals with mobility impairments, offering them the chance to regain the ability to walk independently. The device allows most users to stand and walk with it on their first try. Ekso Indego Personal is distinguished by its modular quick connect design, which enables users to put on and remove the device without assistance. Weighing just 29 lb (13 kg), it is one of the lightest commercial exoskeletons available, making it easy to handle, transport, and store. It harnesses the power of advanced motors in the knee and hip joints, combined with state-of-the-art sensors and control strategies. While Ekso Indego can be used by individuals with spinal cord injuries ranging from T3 to L5 in community or home settings, it is not intended for sports activities or stair climbing.
In the second quarter of 2023 the company booked a total of 44 new exoskeletons, a new record for the Company. Reimbursement coverage could dramatically increase access to exoskeleton technology given the high out-of-pocket costs for patients. Ekso’s exoskeletons cost north of $80,000 and exoskeletons from other companies such as Rewalk Robotics are similarly priced.