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MEDICAL POLICY POLICY RELATED POLICIES POLICY GUIDELINES CODING DESCRIPTION SCOPE BENEFIT APPLICATION RATIONALE REFERENCES APPENDIX HISTORY Focal Treatments for Prostate Cancer Number Effective Date Revision Date(s) Replaces 8.01.61 November 1, 2016 10/11/16; 11/10/15 N/A Policy [TOP] Use of any focal therapy modality to treat patients with localized prostate cancer is investigational. Related Policies [TOP] 7.01.109 Magnetic Resonance–Guided Focused Ultrasound Policy Guidelines [TOP] There is no specific CPT code for these treatments. Coding CPT 53899 55899 Unlisted procedure, urinary system Unlisted procedure, male genital system Description [TOP] Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among men in the United States. Given the frequent uncertainty in predicting behavior of individual localized prostate cancers, and the substantial adverse effects associated with whole-gland treatments, investigators have sought to minimize morbidity associated with radical treatment while reducing tumor burden to an extent that reduces the chances for rapid progression to incurability. This approach is termed focal treatment. Focal treatment seeks to ablate either an “index” lesion (defined as the largest cancerous lesion with the highest grade tumor thought to be the lesion that will drive the natural history of this typically multifocal disease), or, alternatively, to ablate additional non‒index lesions or all other areas of known cancer. Several ablative methods that have been used to remove cancerous lesions in localized prostate cancer are addressed in this evidence review. For individuals who have primary localized prostate cancer who receive focal therapy using laser ablation, highintensity focused ultrasound, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, or photodynamic therapy, the evidence includes 1 high-quality systematic review, studies from 1 registry cohort, and numerous observational studies. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, symptoms, change in disease status, functional outcomes, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. The evidence is highly heterogeneous and inconsistently reports clinical outcomes. No prospective, comparative evidence was found for focal ablation techniques versus current standard treatment of localized prostate cancer, including radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT), or active surveillance. Methods have not been standardized to determine which and how many identified cancerous lesions should be treated for best outcomes. No evidence supports which, if any, of the focal techniques leads to better functional outcomes. Although high disease-specific survival rates have been reported, the short follow-up periods and small sample sizes preclude conclusions on the effect of any of these techniques on overall survival rates. The adverse effect rates associated with focal therapies appear to be superior to those associated with radical treatments (e.g., radical prostatectomy, EBRT), however, evidence is limited in its quality, reporting, and scope. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes. Background Localized Prostate Cancer and Current Management Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among men in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), nearly 240,000 new cases were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2013 and would be associated with around 30,000 deaths. Autopsy studies in the pre prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening era have identified incidental cancerous foci in 30% of men 50 years of age, with incidence reaching 75% at age 80 years.(1) However, NCI Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results data show ageadjusted cancer-specific mortality rates for men with prostate cancer have declined from 40 per 100,000 in 1992 to 22 per 100,000 in 2010. This decline has been attributed to a combination of earlier detection via PSA screening and improved therapies. Localized prostate cancers may appear very similar clinically at diagnosis.(2) However, they often exhibit diverse risk of progression that may not be captured by accepted clinical risk categories (e.g., D’Amico criteria) or prognostic tools based on clinical findings (e.g., PSA titers, Gleason grade, or tumor stage).(3-7) In studies of conservative management, the risk of localized disease progression based on prostate cancer‒specific survival rates at 10 years may range from 15%(8,9) to 20%(10) to perhaps 27% at 20-year follow-up.(11) Among elderly men (≥70 years) with this type of low-risk disease, comorbidities typically supervene as a cause of death; these men will die with prostate cancer present rather than from the cancer. Other very similar-appearing low-risk tumors may progress unexpectedly rapidly, quickly disseminating and becoming incurable. The divergent behavior of localized prostate cancers creates uncertainty whether to treat immediately.(12,13) A patient may choose definitive treatment upfront.(14) Surgery (radical prostatectomy) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) are most commonly used to treat patients with localized prostate cancer.(13,15) Complications most commonly reported with radical prostatectomy or EBRT and with the greatest variability are incontinence (0%-73%) and other genitourinary toxicities (irritative and obstructive symptoms); hematuria (typically ≤5%); gastrointestinal and bowel toxicity, including nausea and loose stools (25%-50%); proctopathy, including rectal pain and bleeding (10%-39%); and erectile dysfunction, including impotence (50%-90%).(15) American Urological Association guidelines suggest patients with low- and intermediate-risk disease have the option of entering an “active surveillance” protocol, which takes into account patient age, patient preferences, and health conditions related to urinary, sexual, and bowel function.(15) With this approach, the patient will forgo immediate therapy, but continue regular monitoring until signs or symptoms of disease progression are evident, at which point curative treatment is instituted.(16,17) Focal Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer Given significant uncertainty in predicting behavior of individual localized prostate cancers, and the substantial adverse effects associated with definitive treatments, investigators have sought a therapeutic “middle ground.” The latter seeks to minimize morbidity associated with radical treatment in those who may not actually require it while reducing tumor burden to an extent that reduces the chances for rapid progression to incurability. This approach is termed focal treatment, in that it seeks to remove-using any of several ablative methods described next-cancerous lesions at high risk of progression, leaving behind uninvolved glandular parenchyma. The overall goal of focal treatment is to minimize the risk of early tumor progression and preserve erectile, urinary and rectal functions by reducing damage to the neurovascular bundles, external sphincter, bladder neck, and rectum.(18-22) Although focal treatment is offered as an alternative middle approach to management of localized prostate cancer, several key issues must be considered in choosing it. They include patient selection, lesion selection, therapy monitoring, and the modality used to ablate lesions. Patient Selection A proportion of men with localized prostate cancer have been reported to have, or develop, serious misgivings and psychosocial problems in accepting active surveillance, sometimes leading to inappropriately discontinuing it.(23) Thus, appropriate patient selection is imperative for physicians who must decide whether to recommend active surveillance or focal treatment for patients who refuse radical therapy or for whom it is not recommended due to the a risk-benefit balance.(24) Lesion Selection Proper lesion selection is a second key consideration in choosing focal treatment of localized prostate cancer. Although prostate cancer has always been regarded as a multifocal disease, clinical evidence shows that between 10% and 40% of men who undergo radical prostatectomy for presumed multifocal disease actually have a unilaterally confined discrete lesion, which, when removed, would “cure” the patient.(25-27) This view presumably has driven the use of region-targeted focal treatment variants, such as hemiablation of the half of the gland containing tumor, or subtotal prostate ablation via the “hockey stick” method.(28) While these approaches can be curative, the more extensive the treatment, the more likely the functional adverse outcomes would approach those of radical treatments. The concept that clinically indolent lesions comprise most of the tumor burden in a patient with organ-confined prostate cancer led to development of a lesion-targeted strategy, which is referred to as “focal therapy” in this evidence review.(29) This involves treating only the largest and highest grade cancerous focus (referred to as the “index lesion”), which has been shown in pathologic studies to determine clinical progression of disease.(30,31) This concept is supported by molecular genetics evidence that suggests a single index tumor focus is usually responsible for disease progression and metastasis.(32,33) The index lesion approach leaves in place small foci 3 less than 0.5 cm in volume, with Gleason score less than 7, that are considered unlikely to progress over a 10- to 20-year period.(34-36) This also leaves available subsequent definitive therapies as needed should disease progress. Identification of prostate cancer lesions-disease localization-particularly the index lesion, is critical to oncologic success of focal therapy. The ability to guide focal ablation energy to the tumor and assess treatment effectiveness are additionally important to treatment success. At present, no single modality meets the requirements for all 3 activities.(24,29) Systematic transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)‒guided biopsy alone has been investigated, but is considered insufficient for patient selection or disease localization for focal therapy.(37-41) A 5 mm transperineal prostate mapping (TPM) biopsy using a brachytherapy template is the current recommended standard by the European Association of Urology in its 2012 guidelines.(42) TPM can provide 3-dimensional coordinates of cancerous lesions, and has about 87% to 95% accuracy rates in detecting and ruling out clinically significant cancer of all sizes.(43,44) However, TPM is resource intensive, requires general anesthesia, and has been associated with adverse events including urinary retention (6%), prostatitis (4%), and local events such as perineal hematoma, bruising, and pain (5%).(45) The risk of complications of general anesthesia and the cost of processing multiple biopsy specimens have been considered to limit the practicality and widespread applicability of this approach.(23) Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI), typically including T1-, T2-, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, has been recognized as a promising modality to risk-stratify prostate cancer and select patients and lesions for focal therapy.(23,29,37) Evidence shows mp-MRI can detect high grade, large prostate cancer foci with performance similar to TPM. (46)For example, for the primary end point definition (lesion, ≥4 mm; Gleason score, ≥3+4), with TPM as the reference standard, sensitivity, negative predictive value, and negative likelihood ratios with mp-MRI were 58% to 73%, 84% to 89%, and 0.3 to 0.5, respectively. Specificity, positive predictive value, and positive likelihood ratios were 71% to 84%, 49% to 63%, and 2.0 to 3.44, respectively. The negative predictive value of mp-MRI appears sufficient to rule out clinically significant prostate cancer and may have clinical use in this setting. However, although mp-MRI technology has capability to detect and risk-stratify prostate cancer, several issues constrain its widespread use for these purposes. Thus, it is still necessary to histologically confirm suspicious lesions using TPM; mp-MRI requires highly specialized MRI-compatible equipment; biopsy within the MRI scanner is challenging; and interpretation of prostate MRI images requires experienced uroradiologists.(47) Therapy Monitoring Some controversy exists as to the proper end points for focal therapy of prostate cancer. The primary end point of focal ablation of clinically significant disease with negative biopsies evaluated at 12 months post-treatment is generally accepted according to a European consensus report.(37) The clinical validity of MRI to analyze the presence of residual or recurrent cancer compared with histologic findings is offered as a secondary end point. However, MRI findings alone are not considered sufficient in follow-up.(37) Finally, although investigators indicate PSA levels should be monitored, they are not considered valid end points because the utility of PSA kinetics in tissue preservation treatments has not been established.(34) Modalities Used to Ablate Lesions Five ablative methods for which clinical evidence is available are considered herein: focal laser ablation (FLA); high-intensity focused ultrasound; cryoablation; radiofrequency ablation (RFA); and photodynamic therapy (PDT).(18,19,21,22,28,29,32,34,37,48,49) Each method requires placement of a needle probe within a tumor volume followed by delivery of some type of energy that destroys the tissue in a controlled manner. All methods except FLA currently rely on ultrasound guidance to the tumor focus of interest; FLA uses MRI to guide the probe. This evidence review does not cover focal brachytherapy (see Related Policies). Focal Laser Ablation FLA refers to the destruction of tissue using a focused beam of electromagnetic radiation emitted from a laser. It is accomplished through transperineal or transrectal introduction of a laser fiber into the cancer focus, with emission of energy. Tissue is destroyed through thermal conversion of the focused electromagnetic energy into heat, causing coagulative necrosis. Other terms for FLA include photothermal therapy, laser interstitial therapy, and laser interstitial photocoagulation.(50) High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound High-intensity focused ultrasound works by focusing high-energy ultrasound waves on a single location, which increases the local tissue temperature to over 80°C. This causes a discrete locus of coagulative necrosis of approximately 3x3x10 mm. The surgeon uses a transrectal probe to plan, carry out, and monitor treatment in a real-time sequence to ablate the entire gland or small discrete lesions. Cryoablation Cryoablation induces cell death through direct cellular toxicity from disruption of the cell membrane caused by iceball crystals and vascular compromise from thrombosis and ischemia secondary to freezing below -30°C. It is performed by transperineal insertion under TRUS guidance of a varying number of cryoprobe needles into the tumor, using a TPM template. Radiofrequency Ablation RFA uses energy produced by a 50-watt generator with a frequency of 460 kHz. The energy is transmitted to the tumor focus through 15 needle electrodes inserted transperineally under ultrasound guidance into the tissue. It produces an increase in tissue temperature causing coagulative necrosis. Photodynamic Therapy PDT uses an intravenous photosensitizing agent that distributes to prostate tissue, followed by delivery of light via transperineally inserted needles. The light induces a photochemical reaction that causes production of reactive oxygen species that are highly toxic and reactive with tissue causing functional and structural damage (i.e., cell death). A major concern with PDT is that real-time monitoring of tissue effects is not possible, and the variable optical properties of prostate tissue complicate assessment of necrosis and treatment progress. Regulatory Status Focal Laser Ablation The Visualase® Thermal Therapy System was cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the 510(k) process for use to necrotize or coagulate soft tissue through interstitial irradiation or thermal therapy under MRI guidance in cardiothoracic surgery, dermatology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, head and neck surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, radiology, and urology, for wavelengths 800 to 1064 nm. FDA product code: LLZ, GEX, FRN. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound In 2015, the Sonablate® 450 (SonaCare Medical) was approved by FDA through a de novo request and classified the device as class II under the generic name “high intensity ultrasound system for prostate tissue ablation”. This device was the first of its kind to be approved in the United States. A similar device, Ablatherm® (EDAP TMS), was cleared for marketing by FDA through the 510(k) process shortly thereafter. Cryoablation Some cryotherapy devices cleared for marketing by FDA through the 510(k) process for cryoablation of the prostate are: Visual-ICE® (Galil Medical), Ice Rod CX, CryoCare® (Galil Medical), and IceSphere (Galil Medical). FDA product code: GEH. Radiofrequency Ablation RFA devices have been cleared for marketing by FDA through the 510(k) process for general use for soft tissue cutting and coagulation and ablation by thermal coagulation. Under this general indication, RFA may be used to ablate tumors. FDA product code: GEI. Photodynamic Therapy FDA has granted approval to several photosensitizing drugs and light applicators. Photofrin® (porfimer sodium) and psoralen are photosensitizers, ultraviolet lamps used in the treatment of cancer, were cleared from marketing by FDA through the 510(k) process. FDA product code: FTC. Scope [TOP] Medical policies are systematically developed guidelines that serve as a resource for Company staff when determining coverage for specific medical procedures, drugs or devices. Coverage for medical services is subject to the limits and conditions of the member benefit plan. Members and their providers should consult the member benefit booklet or contact a customer service representative to determine whether there are any benefit limitations applicable to this service or supply. This medical policy does not apply to Medicare Advantage. Benefit Application [TOP] N/A Rationale [TOP] Populations Individuals: With primary localized prostate cancer Interventions Interventions of interest are: Focal therapy using laser ablation Comparators Comparators of interest are: Surgery (radical prostatectomy) External-beam radiotherapy Active surveillance Individuals: With primary localized prostate cancer Interventions of interest are: Focal therapy using highintensity focused ultrasound Comparators of interest are: Surgery (radical prostatectomy) External-beam radiotherapy Active surveillance Individuals: With primary localized prostate cancer Interventions of interest are: Focal therapy using cryoablation Comparators of interest are: Surgery (radical prostatectomy) External-beam radiotherapy Active surveillance Individuals: With primary localized prostate cancer Interventions of interest are: Focal therapy using radiofrequency thermal ablation Comparators of interest are: Surgery (radical prostatectomy) External-beam radiotherapy Active surveillance Individuals: With primary localized prostate cancer Interventions of interest are: Focal therapy using photodynamic therapy Comparators of interest are: Surgery (radical prostatectomy) External-beam radiotherapy Active surveillance Outcomes Relevant outcomes include: Overall survival Disease-specific survival Symptoms Change in disease status Functional outcomes Quality of life Treatment-related morbidity Relevant outcomes include: Overall survival Disease-specific survival Symptoms Change in disease status Functional outcomes Quality of life Treatment-related morbidity Relevant outcomes include: Overall survival Disease-specific survival Symptoms Change in disease status Functional outcomes Quality of life Treatment-related morbidity Relevant outcomes include: Overall survival Disease-specific survival Symptoms Change in disease status Functional outcomes Quality of life Treatment-related morbidity Relevant outcomes include: Overall survival Disease-specific survival Symptoms Change in disease status Functional outcomes Quality of life Treatment-related morbidity This policy was created in April 2015, based on a literature review of the PubMed database from January 2005 to March 3, 2015. The current evidence review includes a literature search of PubMed through July 26, 2016. No prospective, comparative studies were identified for any of the ablative technologies. Evidence comprises case series and other observational studies. This review only includes evidence on primary focal therapy for prostate cancer; it does not consider the recurrent or salvage setting. Focal Treatments OverviewA high-quality systematic review published by Valerio et al in 2014 compiled the bulk of the evidence available in the literature on the technologies included herein through 2012.(51) This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 52 (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies that reported actual focal therapy procedures were included. Specific categories of data to be collected were prespecified. Study selection criteria were prespecified, with dual review and data extraction, and senior author arbitration as needed. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine level of evidence for therapy. This review and its summarized statistics serve as the initial evidence source for this evidence review. Additional prospective studies of a comparative nature are reviewed in subsequent sections below. A total of 25 series were included that evaluated a number of methods used for focal therapy in the primary setting. The quality of evidence was low to medium, with no study yielding a level of evidence greater than 2b (individual cohort study). Twelve series used high-intensity focused ultrasound (N=226); 6 series (N=1400) used cryoablation (1 study included 1160/1400); 3 used focal laser ablation (N=16); 1 used radiofrequency ablation (N=14); and 1 used photodynamic therapy (N=6). In 2 series focal treatments were mixed or included brachytherapy. Patients in 12 series included in this SR had disease defined as low risk (n=1109 [56%]), intermediate risk (n=704 [36%]), and high risk (n=164 [8%]); risk categories were not available in 13 series. Median age of patients ranged from 56 years to 73 years. The prostate -specific antigen (PSA) level of patients ranged from 3.8 to 24 ng/mL. An individual Gleason score was available in 20 series, with 1503 men having a Gleason score of less than 6; 521 with a Gleason score of 7; and 82 with Gleason scores higher than 8. Median follow-up periods for the reported focal therapy series were 0 to 10.6 years. Disease was localized as follows: transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy in 2 series; TRUS biopsy with Doppler ultrasound in 2 series; TRUS biopsy plus magnetic resonance imaging in 6 series; transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in 4 series; preoperative assessment was not reported in 11 studies. In all studies where such data were reported in the Valerio SR, all known areas of cancer were treated; in no study was it explicitly stated that the index lesion was ablated and that other lesions were left untreated. Biochemical control based on PSA levels was reported in 5 series using the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix Consensus Conference criteria.(53) Other definitions used to define biochemical control were American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO; 5 series), Stuttgart (1 series), and Phoenix plus PSA velocity greater than 0.75 ng/mL annually (1 series). Biochemical control rates ranged from 86% at 8-year follow-up (n=318) to 60% at 5-year (n=56). Because follow-up was too short, progression to metastatic disease was not reported for most studies in the Valerio review; in those with information available, metastatic progression rates were very low (0%-0.3%). Although a cancer-specific survival rate of 100% was reported in all series, this must be considered in the context of the small numbers of patients in individual studies and the short follow-up (only 3 studies had follow-up >5 years). Across all studies, median hospital length of stay was 1 day; other perioperative outcomes were poorly reported. Across studies, the most frequent complications associated with treatment of prostate cancer urinary retention, urinary stricture, and urinary tract infection-occurred in 0% to 17%, 0% to 5%,and 0% to 17%, respectively, of patients. Only 5 studies reported all 3 complications. Validated questionnaires were used in 9 series to report urinary functional outcomes; physician-reported rates were used in 5 studies. According to questionnaires, the pad-free continence rate varied between 95% and 100%, whereas the range of leak-free rates was 80% to 100%. Validated questionnaire data showed erectile functional rates in 54% to 100%, while physician-reported data showed erectile functional rates of 58% to 85%. Other adverse outcomes were poorly reported, particularly quality-of-life data, with only 3 studies reporting the latter. In 2015, Wolff et al reported results of a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of radiotherapy (RT) versus other nonpharmacologic treatments, including HIFU and cryoablation for treatment of localized prostate cancer.(54) The review followed Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and Cochrane guidelines for conduct and reporting. The selection criteria and outcomes of interest were prespecified. The search included publications up to February 2014. The reviewers found 2 RCTs of cryotherapy versus RT, but both evaluated whole-gland instead of focal cryotherapy, and found no RCTs of HIFU versus RT. Section Summary Systematic reviews have reported no published prospective, comparative evidence for focal ablation techniques versus current standard treatment of localized prostate cancer. Evidence consists of case series and noncomparative observational studies. Studies were generally small with short follow-up. Data on clinical outcomes such as progression to metastatic disease were not reported for most studies included in the Valerio review. Perioperative outcomes and other adverse events were also poorly reported. Laser Ablation Additional case series and nonrandomized studies have assessed of focal laser ablation(55,56) since the Valerio review. Studies were small (range, 8-25 men), single arm, lacked long-term follow-up (range, 3-6 months) and did not report clinical outcomes (e.g., progression-free survival, overall survival). Cryoablation The Cryo Online Data (COLD) registry is a database established and supported by a cryotherapy manufacturer. The data are maintained independently. Physicians submit standardized forms to the database and participation is voluntary. The registry contains case report forms of pretreatment and posttreatment information for patients undergoing whole-gland or partial-gland (focal) prostate cryoablation. Patients are stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. Ward and Jones have described characteristics of the focal cryotherapy registry patients in 2012.(57) Biochemical success was defined using the ASTRO definitions. The analysis included 1160 patients treated with focal cryoablation and 5853 treated with whole-gland cryoablation between 1997 and 2007. Report of use of focal cryoablation increased dramatically between 1999 (46 reports) and 2005 (567 reports, p<0.01). The biochemical success at 36 months for focal cryotherapy was 75.7% and was similar to that of whole gland cryoablation (75.5%); no significant differences between biochemical success for whole-gland versus focal cryoablation were observed for low-, intermediate-, or high-risk groups (p not given). Urinary continence was 98.4% in focal versus 96.9% in whole-gland cryoablation. A matched cohort study published in 2015 included 317 men who underwent focal cryoablation with 317 men who underwent whole-gland cryoablation.(58) Patients in the study were entered in the Cryo Online Data (COLD) registry between 2007 and 2013. Median (SD) age at the time of the procedure was 66 (7) years, and median follow-up time was 58 months. All patients were preoperatively potent men who had low-risk disease according to the D'Amico risk criteria and were matched according to age at surgery. Outcomes included biochemical recurrence (BCR) free‒survival, defined according to ASTRO and Phoenix criteria and assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves. Only patients with PSA nadir data were included in oncologic outcome analysis. Functional outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months after the procedure for erectile function (defined as ability to have intercourse with or without erectile aids), urinary continence, urinary retention, and rates of fistula formation. After surgery, 30% (n=95) and 17% (n=55) of the men who underwent whole-gland cryoablation and focal cryoablation, respectively, underwent biopsy, with positive biopsy rates of 12% and 14%, respectively. BCR-free survival rates at 60 months according to the Phoenix definition were 80% and 71% in the whole-gland and focal therapy cohorts, respectively, with a hazard ratio of 0.827 (p>0.1). According to the ASTRO definition, BCR-free survival was 82% and 73%, respectively (p>0.1). Erectile function data at 24 months were available for 172 whole-gland and 160 focal therapy‒treated men. Recovery of erectile function was achieved in 47% and 69% of patients in the whole-gland and focal therapy cohorts, respectively (p=0.001). Urinary function data at 24 months were available for 307 whole-gland and 313 focal therapy patients. Urinary continence rates were 99% and 100% for the wholegland and focal therapy groups, respectively (p=0.02). Urinary retention at 6, 12, and 24 months was reported in 7%, 2%, and 0.6%, respectively, in the whole-gland treated patients versus 5%, 1%, and 0.9%, respectively, in the focal therapy cohort. One fistula was reported in each group. In 2016, Lian et al reported long-term results of a case series of 40 low- to intermediate-risk patients treated with primary focal cryoablation between 2006 and 2013 by a single urologist in China.(59) Biochemical recurrence was defined using the Phoenix definition and treatment failure was defined as at least 1 positive biopsy or BCR. Mean follow-up was 63 months (range, 12-92 months). Two (5%) of 40 patients met the criteria for biochemical failure and 4 (10%) patients experienced treatment failure. Of the men who were potent before cryotherapy, 20 (77%) remained potent after treatment. Ninety-eight percent of the men were completely continent during follow-up. Section Summary: Data from the COLD registry comparing focal to whole-gland cryoablation have suggested that BRFS is similar although perhaps slightly lower in focal cryoablation compared to whole-gland cryoablation while erectile function preservation was higher. Evidence for other focal therapies continues to consist of small, noncomparative studies. Results from a phase 3 trial of photodynamic therapy should be available soon. Photodynamic Therapy Preliminary results from a trial of TOOKAD, a soluble vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP), were presented in 2016 at the 31st Annual European Association of Urology Congress but have not yet been published. A total of 413 men with low-risk prostate cancer were randomized and followed for 2 years (206 in VTP plus active surveillance; 207 in active surveillance without VTP).(60) It was reported that 28% of the patients in the VTP group versus 58% of the control group experienced disease progression (hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.24 to 0.46; p<0.001) and more patients in the VTP group (49%) versus surveillance group (14%) had negative biopsies at 2 years. These results cannot be reviewed in full until publication. Additional nonrandomized studies have assessed of photodynamic therapy since the Valerio review. A prospective, multicenter phase 2/3 trial by Taneja et al treated 30 men using photodynamic therapy. Follow-up was limited to 6 months and trialists did not report important clinical outcomes (e.g., progression-free survival, overall survival).(61) Ongoing and Unpublished Clinical Trials Some currently unpublished trials that might influence this policy are listed in Table 1. Table 1. Summary of Key Trials NCT No. Ongoing NCT02303054 NCT02016040 NCT02328807 NCT00877682 Unpublished NCT01310894 Trial Name MRI-US Fusion Biopsy-Guided Focal Radio-Frequency Ablation of the Prostate in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer (FUSAblate Trial) Focal Therapy Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (Ablatherm®) for Localized Prostate Cancer Focal Prostate Radio-Frequency Ablation for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer Regional Cryoablation for Localized Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate A European Randomized Phase 3 Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of TOOKAD ® Soluble for Localized Prostate Cancer Compared to Active Surveillance Planned Enrollment Completion Date 21 Jul 2016 25 Sep 2016 30 Nov 2016 100 Apr 2018 413 Sep 2015 (completed) NCT: national clinical trial. Summary of Evidence For individuals who have primary localized prostate cancer who receive focal therapy using laser ablation, highintensity focused ultrasound, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, or photodynamic therapy, the evidence includes 1 high-quality systematic review, studies from 1 registry cohort, and numerous observational studies. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, symptoms, change in disease status, functional outcomes, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. The evidence is highly heterogeneous and inconsistently reports clinical outcomes. No prospective, comparative evidence was found for focal ablation techniques versus current standard treatment of localized prostate cancer, including radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT), or active surveillance. Methods have not been standardized to determine which and how many identified cancerous lesions should be treated for best outcomes. No evidence supports which, if any, of the focal techniques leads to better functional outcomes. Although high disease-specific survival rates have been reported, the short follow-up periods and small sample sizes preclude conclusions on the effect of any of these techniques on overall survival rates. The adverse effect rates associated with focal therapies appear to be superior to those associated with radical treatments (e.g., radical prostatectomy, EBRT), however, evidence is limited in its quality, reporting, and scope. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes. Practice Guidelines and Position Statements National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for prostate cancer (v.3.2016) state that cryosurgery (cryotherapy or cryoablation) is an “evolving minimally invasive therapy that damages tumor tissue through local freezing.” It further states that “other emerging therapies such as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and vascular-targeted photodynamic (VTP), also warrant further study.”(62) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use cryoablation for localized prostate cancer in 2012.(48) NICE concluded that current evidence on focal therapy using cryoablation for localized prostate cancer raises no major safety concerns. However, evidence on efficacy is limited in quantity, with concern that prostate cancer is commonly multifocal. Therefore this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research. NICE also issued guidance on the use of focal therapy using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for localized prostate cancer in 2012.(49) It concluded that current evidence on HIFU for localized prostate cancer raises no major safety concerns. However, evidence on efficacy is limited in quantity, with concern that prostate cancer is commonly multifocal. Therefore this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research. In 2014, NICE issued guidance on diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. The recommendations stated that neither cryotherapy or HIFU should be offered to men with localized prostate cancer or locally advanced prostate cancer outside of controlled trials comparing their use with established interventions.(63) American Urological Association The American Urological Association (AUA) issued guidelines on the management of clinically localized prostate cancer in 2007, which were reviewed and validity confirmed in 2011.(64) AUA guidelines include the following recommendation regarding focal treatments: “In addition to treatment modalities described and evaluated by the panel, a number of additional treatments as well as combinations of treatments have been used for the management of clinically localized prostate cancer. These treatments include cryotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, highdose interstitial prostate brachytherapy, and combinations of treatments (e.g., external beam radiotherapy and interstitial prostate brachytherapy)…. The panel did not include other treatment options … due to a combination of factors, including limited published experience and short-term follow -up….” National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute (NCI) updated its information on prostate cancer treatments in 2015.(65) NCI indicates cryotherapy and HIFU are new treatment options currently being studied in national trials. NCI proffers no recommendation for or against these treatments. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published recommendations for prostate cancer screening. However, there are no recommendations for focal treatment of prostate cancer. Medicare National Coverage There is no national coverage determination (NCD). In the absence of an NCD, coverage decisions are left to the discretion of local Medicare carriers. References [TOP] 1. Dall'Era MA, Cooperberg MR, Chan JM, et al. Active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer: review of the current literature. Cancer. Apr 15 2008;112(8):1650-1659. PMID 18306379 2. Bangma CH, Roemeling S, Schroder FH. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of early detected prostate cancer. World J Urol. Mar 2007;25(1):3-9. PMID 17364211 3. Johansson JE, Andren O, Andersson SO, et al. Natural history of early, localized prostate cancer. JAMA. Jun 9 2004;291(22):2713-2719. PMID 15187052 4. Ploussard G, Epstein JI, Montironi R, et al. The contemporary concept of significant versus insignificant prostate cancer. Eur Urol. Aug 2011;60(2):291-303. PMID 21601982 5. Harnden P, Naylor B, Shelley MD, et al. The clinical management of patients with a small volume of prostatic cancer on biopsy: what are the risks of progression? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer. Mar 1 2008;112(5):971-981. PMID 18186496 6. Brimo F, Montironi R, Egevad L, et al. Contemporary grading for prostate cancer: implications for patient care. Eur Urol. May 2013;63(5):892-901. PMID 23092544 7. Eylert MF, Persad R. Management of prostate cancer. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). Feb 2012;73(2):95-99. PMID 22504752 8. Eastham JA, Kattan MW, Fearn P, et al. Local progression among men with conservatively treated localized prostate cancer: results from the Transatlantic Prostate Group. Eur Urol. Feb 2008;53(2):347354. PMID 17544572 9. Bill-Axelson A, Holmberg L, Ruutu M, et al. Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting in early prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. May 12 2005;352(19):1977-1984. PMID 15888698 10. Thompson IM, Jr., Goodman PJ, Tangen CM, et al. Long-term survival of participants in the prostate cancer prevention trial. N Engl J Med. Aug 15 2013;369(7):603-610. PMID 23944298 11. Albertsen PC, Hanley JA, Fine J. 20-year outcomes following conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer. JAMA. May 4 2005;293(17):2095-2101. PMID 15870412 12. Borley N, Feneley MR. Prostate cancer: diagnosis and staging. Asian J Androl. Jan 2009;11(1):74-80. PMID 19050692 13. Freedland SJ. Screening, risk assessment, and the approach to therapy in patients with prostate cancer. Cancer. Mar 15 2011;117(6):1123-1135. PMID 20960523 14. Ip S, Dahabreh IJ, Chung M, et al. An evidence review of active surveillance in men with localized prostate cancer. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment no. 204 (AHRQ Publication No. 12-E003-EF). Rockville, MD: Agency for Research and Quality; 2011. 15. Thompson I, Thrasher JB, Aus G, et al. American Urological Association guideline for management of clinically localized prostate cancer: 2007 update. 2007; http://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Prostate-Cancer.pdf Accessed October 2016. 16. Whitson JM, Carroll PR. Active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer: defining the triggers for intervention. J Clin Oncol. Jun 10 2010;28(17):2807-2809. PMID 20439633 17. Albertsen PC. Treatment of localized prostate cancer: when is active surveillance appropriate? Nat Rev Clin Oncol. Jul 2010;7(7):394-400. PMID 20440282 18. Jacome-Pita F, Sanchez-Salas R, Barret E, et al. Focal therapy in prostate cancer: the current situation. Ecancermedicalscience. 2014;8:435. PMID 24944577 19. Nguyen CT, Jones JS. Focal therapy in the management of localized prostate cancer. BJU Int. May 2011;107(9):1362-1368. PMID 21223478 20. Lindner U, Lawrentschuk N, Schatloff O, et al. Evolution from active surveillance to focal therapy in the management of prostate cancer. Future Oncol. Jun 2011;7(6):775-787. PMID 21675840 21. Iberti CT, Mohamed N, Palese MA. A review of focal therapy techniques in prostate cancer: clinical results for high-intensity focused ultrasound and focal cryoablation. Rev Urol. 2011;13(4):e196-202. PMID 22232569 22. Lecornet E, Ahmed HU, Moore CM, et al. Conceptual basis for focal therapy in prostate cancer. J Endourol. May 2010;24(5):811-818. PMID 20443699 23. Tay KJ, Mendez M, Moul JW, et al. Active surveillance for prostate cancer: can we modernize contemporary protocols to improve patient selection and outcomes in the focal therapy era? Curr Opin Urol. Mar 12 2015. PMID 25768694 24. Passoni NM, Polascik TJ. How to select the right patients for focal therapy of prostate cancer? Curr Opin Urol. May 2014;24(3):203-208. PMID 24625428 25. Scales CD, Jr., Presti JC, Jr., Kane CJ, et al. Predicting unilateral prostate cancer based on biopsy features: implications for focal ablative therapy--results from the SEARCH database. J Urol. Oct 2007;178(4 Pt 1):1249-1252. PMID 17698131 26. Mouraviev V, Mayes JM, Sun L, et al. Prostate cancer laterality as a rationale of focal ablative therapy for the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer. Cancer. Aug 15 2007;110(4):906-910. PMID 17587207 27. Mouraviev V, Mayes JM, Madden JF, et al. Analysis of laterality and percentage of tumor involvement in 1386 prostatectomized specimens for selection of unilateral focal cryotherapy. Technol Cancer Res Treat. Apr 2007;6(2):91-95. PMID 17375971 28. Muto S, Yoshii T, Saito K, et al. Focal therapy with high-intensity-focused ultrasound in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. Mar 2008;38(3):192-199. PMID 18281309 29. Kasivisvanathan V, Emberton M, Ahmed HU. Focal therapy for prostate cancer: rationale and treatment opportunities. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). Aug 2013;25(8):461-473. PMID 23759249 30. Mouraviev V, Villers A, Bostwick DG, et al. Understanding the pathological features of focality, grade and tumour volume of early-stage prostate cancer as a foundation for parenchyma-sparing prostate cancer therapies: active surveillance and focal targeted therapy. BJU Int. Oct 2011;108(7):1074-1085. PMID 21489116 31. Mouraviev V, Mayes JM, Polascik TJ. Pathologic basis of focal therapy for early-stage prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol. Apr 2009;6(4):205-215. PMID 19352395 32. Liu W, Laitinen S, Khan S, et al. Copy number analysis indicates monoclonal origin of lethal metastatic prostate cancer. Nat Med. May 2009;15(5):559-565. PMID 19363497 33. Guo CC, Wang Y, Xiao L, et al. The relationship of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion between primary and metastatic prostate cancers. Hum Pathol. May 2012;43(5):644-649. PMID 21937078 34. Ahmed HU, Emberton M. Active surveillance and radical therapy in prostate cancer: can focal therapy offer the middle way? World J Urol. Oct 2008;26(5):457-467. PMID 18704441 35. Stamey TA, Freiha FS, McNeal JE, et al. Localized prostate cancer. Relationship of tumor volume to clinical significance for treatment of prostate cancer. Cancer. Feb 1 1993;71(3 Suppl):933-938. PMID 7679045 36. Nelson BA, Shappell SB, Chang SS, et al. Tumour volume is an independent predictor of prostatespecific antigen recurrence in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. BJU Int. Jun 2006;97(6):1169-1172. PMID 16686706 37. van den Bos W, Muller BG, Ahmed H, et al. Focal therapy in prostate cancer: international multidisciplinary consensus on trial design. Eur Urol. Jun 2014;65(6):1078-1083. PMID 24444476 38. Mayes JM, Mouraviev V, Sun L, et al. Can the conventional sextant prostate biopsy accurately predict unilateral prostate cancer in low-risk, localized, prostate cancer? Urol Oncol. Mar-Apr 2011;29(2):166170. PMID 19451000 39. Sinnott M, Falzarano SM, Hernandez AV, et al. Discrepancy in prostate cancer localization between biopsy and prostatectomy specimens in patients with unilateral positive biopsy: implications for focal therapy. Prostate. Aug 1 2012;72(11):1179-1186. PMID 22161896 40. Gallina A, Maccagnano C, Suardi N, et al. Unilateral positive biopsies in low risk prostate cancer patients diagnosed with extended transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy schemes do not predict unilateral prostate cancer at radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. Jul 2012;110(2 Pt 2):E64-68. PMID 22093108 41. Briganti A, Tutolo M, Suardi N, et al. There is no way to identify patients who will harbor small volume, unilateral prostate cancer at final pathology. implications for focal therapies. Prostate. Jun 1 2012;72(8):925-930. PMID 21965006 42. Heidenreich A, Bastian PJ, Bellmunt J, et al. European Association of Urology 2012 guidelines on prostate cancer. 2012; http://uroweb.org/guidelines/ Accessed October 2016. 43. Crawford ED, Rove KO, Barqawi AB, et al. Clinical-pathologic correlation between transperineal mapping biopsies of the prostate and three-dimensional reconstruction of prostatectomy specimens. Prostate. May 2013;73(7):778-787. PMID 23169245 44. Hu Y, Ahmed HU, Carter T, et al. A biopsy simulation study to assess the accuracy of several transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-biopsy strategies compared with template prostate mapping biopsies in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. Sep 2012;110(6):812-820. PMID 22394583 45. Tsivian M, Abern MR, Qi P, et al. Short-term functional outcomes and complications associated with transperineal template prostate mapping biopsy. Urology. Jul 2013;82(1):166-170. PMID 23697794 46. Arumainayagam N, Ahmed HU, Moore CM, et al. Multiparametric MR imaging for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer: a validation cohort study with transperineal template prostate mapping as the reference standard. Radiology. Sep 2013;268(3):761-769. PMID 23564713 47. Dickinson L, Ahmed HU, Allen C, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging for the detection, localisation, and characterisation of prostate cancer: recommendations from a European consensus meeting. Eur Urol. Apr 2011;59(4):477-494. PMID 21195536 48. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Focal Therapy Using Cryoablation for Localised Prostate Cancer (IPG423). 2012; https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg423/chapter/1-guidance Accessed October 2016. 49. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Focal Therapy Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Localized Prostate Cancer (IPG424). 2012; http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg424 Accessed October 2016. 50. Lee T, Mendhiratta N, Sperling D, et al. Focal laser ablation for localized prostate cancer: principles, clinical trials, and our initial experience. Rev Urol. 2014;16(2):55-66. PMID 25009445 51. Valerio M, Ahmed HU, Emberton M, et al. The role of focal therapy in the management of localised prostate cancer: a systematic review. Eur Urol. Oct 2014;66(4):732-751. PMID 23769825 52. Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. J Clin Epidemiol. Oct 2009;62(10):e1-34. PMID 19631507 53. Roach M, 3rd, Hanks G, Thames H, Jr., et al. Defining biochemical failure following radiotherapy with or without hormonal therapy in men with clinically localized prostate cancer: recommendations of the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix Consensus Conference. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Jul 15 2006;65(4):965974. PMID 16798415 54. Wolff RF, Ryder S, Bossi A, et al. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer. Eur J Cancer. Nov 2015;51(16):2345-2367. PMID 26254809 55. Lepor H, Llukani E, Sperling D, et al. Complications, recovery, and early functional outcomes and oncologic control following in-bore focal laser ablation of prostate cancer. Eur Urol. Dec 2015;68(6):924926. PMID 25979568 56. Natarajan S, Raman S, Priester AM, et al. Focal laser ablation of prostate cancer: phase I clinical trial. J Urol. Jul 2016;196(1):68-75. PMID 26748164 57. Ward JF, Jones JS. Focal cryotherapy for localized prostate cancer: a report from the national Cryo OnLine Database (COLD) Registry. BJU Int. Jun 2012;109(11):1648-1654. PMID 22035200 58. Mendez MH, Passoni NM, Pow-Sang J, et al. Comparison of outcomes between preoperatively potent men treated with focal versus whole gland cryotherapy in a matched population. J Endourol. Jul 13 2015. PMID 26058496 59. Lian H, Zhuang J, Yang R, et al. Focal cryoablation for unilateral low-intermediate-risk prostate cancer: 63-month mean follow-up results of 41 patients. Int Urol Nephrol. Jan 2016;48(1):85-90. PMID 26531063 60. Emberton M. TOOKAD (Padeliporfin) Vascular-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy Versus Active Surveillance in Men With Low Risk Prostate Cancer. A Randomized Phase 3 Clinical Trial (Abstract LBA02). Paper presented at: 31st Annual European Association of Urology Congress; 2016, March 13; Munich, Germany. 61. Taneja SS, Bennett J, Coleman J, et al. Final results of a phase I/II multicenter trial of WST11 vascular targeted photodynamic therapy for hemi-ablation of the prostate in men with unilateral low risk prostate cancer performed in the United States. J Urol. Jun 9 2016. PMID 27291652 62. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: prostate cancer. Version 3.2016. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/prostate.pdf Accessed October 2016. 63. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management (CG175). 2014; https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg175/resources/prostate-cancer-diagnosis-andmanagement-35109753913285 Accessed October 2016. 64. American Urological Association (AUA). Guideline for the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer. 2011; https://www.auanet.org/education/guidelines/prostate-cancer.cfm Accessed October 2016. 65. National Cancer Institute. Prostate Cancer Treatment, Treatment Option Overview. 2015; http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page4#_172 Accessed October 2016. Appendix [TOP] N/A History [TOP] Date 07/14/15 11/10/15 10/11/16 Reason New Policy. Policy created with literature review through March 3, 2015. Use of any focal therapy modality is considered investigational for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Annual Review. Policy updated with literature review through July 28, 2015; reference 55 added. Policy statement unchanged. Annual Review. Policy updated with literature review through July 26, 2016; references 55-57 and 59-63 were added. Policy statement unchanged. Disclaimer: This medical policy is a guide in evaluating the medical necessity of a particular service or treatment. The Company adopts policies after careful review of published peer-reviewed scientific literature, national guidelines and local standards of practice. 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Sunați la 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). 한국어 (Korean): 본 통지서에는 중요한 정보가 들어 있습니다. 즉 이 통지서는 귀하의 신청에 관하여 그리고 Premera Blue Cross 를 통한 커버리지에 관한 정보를 포함하고 있을 수 있습니다. 본 통지서에는 핵심이 되는 날짜들이 있을 수 있습니다. 귀하는 귀하의 건강 커버리지를 계속 유지하거나 비용을 절감하기 위해서 일정한 마감일까지 조치를 취해야 할 필요가 있을 수 있습니다. 귀하는 이러한 정보와 도움을 귀하의 언어로 비용 부담없이 얻을 수 있는 권리가 있습니다. 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357) 로 전화하십시오. Pусский (Russian): Настоящее уведомление содержит важную информацию. Это уведомление может содержать важную информацию о вашем заявлении или страховом покрытии через Premera Blue Cross. В настоящем уведомлении могут быть указаны ключевые даты. Вам, возможно, потребуется принять меры к определенным предельным срокам для сохранения страхового покрытия или помощи с расходами. Вы имеете право на бесплатное получение этой информации и помощь на вашем языке. Звоните по телефону 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). ລາວ (Lao): ແຈ້ ງການນ້ີ ມີຂ້ໍ ມູ ນສໍາຄັ ນ. ແຈ້ ງການນ້ີ ອາດຈະມີຂ້ໍ ມູ ນສໍາຄັ ນກ່ ຽວກັ ບຄໍາຮ້ ອງສະ ໝັ ກ ຫື ຼ ຄວາມຄຸ້ ມຄອງປະກັ ນໄພຂອງທ່ ານຜ່ ານ Premera Blue Cross. ອາດຈະມີ ວັ ນທີສໍາຄັ ນໃນແຈ້ ງການນີ້. ທ່ ານອາດຈະຈໍາເປັນຕ້ ອງດໍາເນີນການຕາມກໍານົ ດ ເວລາສະເພາະເພື່ອຮັ ກສາຄວາມຄຸ້ ມຄອງປະກັ ນສຸ ຂະພາບ ຫື ຼ ຄວາມຊ່ ວຍເຫື ຼ ອເລື່ອງ ຄ່ າໃຊ້ ຈ່ າຍຂອງທ່ ານໄວ້ . ທ່ ານມີສິດໄດ້ ຮັ ບຂ້ໍ ມູ ນນ້ີ ແລະ ຄວາມຊ່ ວຍເຫື ຼ ອເປັນພາສາ ຂອງທ່ ານໂດຍບໍ່ເສຍຄ່ າ. ໃຫ້ ໂທຫາ 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). ភាសាែខម រ (Khmer): េសចកត ីជូនដំណឹងេនះមានព័ត៌មានយា៉ងសំខាន់។ េសចកត ីជូនដំណឹងេនះរបែហល ជាមានព័ត៌មានយា៉ងសំខាន់អំពីទរមង់ែបបបទ ឬការរា៉ប់រងរបស់អនកតាមរយៈ Premera Blue Cross ។ របែហលជាមាន កាលបរ ិេចឆ ទសំខាន់េនៅកនុងេសចកត ីជូន ដំណឹងេនះ។ អន ករបែហលជារតូវការបេញច ញសមតថ ភាព ដល់កំណត់ៃថង ជាក់ចបាស់ នានា េដើមបីនឹងរកសាទុកការធានារា៉ប់រងសុខភាពរបស់អនក ឬរបាក់ជំនួយេចញៃថល ។ អន កមានសិទធិទទួ លព័ត៌មានេនះ និងជំនួយេនៅកនុងភាសារបស់អនកេដាយមិនអស លុយេឡើយ។ សូ មទូ រស័ពទ 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357)។ ਪੰ ਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi): ਇਸ ਨੋਿਟਸ ਿਵਚ ਖਾਸ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਹੈ. ਇਸ ਨੋਿਟਸ ਿਵਚ Premera Blue Cross ਵਲ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਕਵਰੇਜ ਅਤੇ ਅਰਜੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਮਹੱ ਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ . ਇਸ ਨੋਿਜਸ ਜਵਚ ਖਾਸ ਤਾਰੀਖਾ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ. ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਸੀ ਜਸਹਤ ਕਵਰੇਜ ਿਰੱ ਖਣੀ ਹੋਵੇ ਜਾ ਓਸ ਦੀ ਲਾਗਤ ਜਿਵੱ ਚ ਮਦਦ ਦੇ ਇਛੁੱ ਕ ਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਅੰ ਤਮ ਤਾਰੀਖ਼ ਤ ਪਿਹਲਾਂ ਕੁੱ ਝ ਖਾਸ ਕਦਮ ਚੁੱ ਕਣ ਦੀ ਲੋ ੜ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ ,ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਿਵੱ ਚ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਿਵੱ ਚ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਮਦਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਅਿਧਕਾਰ ਹੈ ,ਕਾਲ 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). ( فارسیFarsi): اين اعالميه ممکن است حاوی اطالعات مھم درباره فرم. اين اعالميه حاوی اطالعات مھم ميباشد به تاريخ ھای مھم در. باشدPremera Blue Cross تقاضا و يا پوشش بيمه ای شما از طريق شما ممکن است برای حقظ پوشش بيمه تان يا کمک در پرداخت ھزينه. اين اعالميه توجه نماييد شما حق. به تاريخ ھای مشخصی برای انجام کارھای خاصی احتياج داشته باشيد،ھای درمانی تان برای کسب.اين را داريد که اين اطالعات و کمک را به زبان خود به طور رايگان دريافت نماييد ( تماس800-842-5357 تماس باشمارهTTY )کاربران800-722-1471 اطالعات با شماره .برقرار نماييد Polskie (Polish): To ogłoszenie może zawierać ważne informacje. To ogłoszenie może zawierać ważne informacje odnośnie Państwa wniosku lub zakresu świadczeń poprzez Premera Blue Cross. Prosimy zwrócic uwagę na kluczowe daty, które mogą być zawarte w tym ogłoszeniu aby nie przekroczyć terminów w przypadku utrzymania polisy ubezpieczeniowej lub pomocy związanej z kosztami. Macie Państwo prawo do bezpłatnej informacji we własnym języku. Zadzwońcie pod 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). Português (Portuguese): Este aviso contém informações importantes. Este aviso poderá conter informações importantes a respeito de sua aplicação ou cobertura por meio do Premera Blue Cross. Poderão existir datas importantes neste aviso. Talvez seja necessário que você tome providências dentro de determinados prazos para manter sua cobertura de saúde ou ajuda de custos. Você tem o direito de obter esta informação e ajuda em seu idioma e sem custos. Ligue para 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). Fa’asamoa (Samoan): Atonu ua iai i lenei fa’asilasilaga ni fa’amatalaga e sili ona taua e tatau ona e malamalama i ai. O lenei fa’asilasilaga o se fesoasoani e fa’amatala atili i ai i le tulaga o le polokalame, Premera Blue Cross, ua e tau fia maua atu i ai. Fa’amolemole, ia e iloilo fa’alelei i aso fa’apitoa olo’o iai i lenei fa’asilasilaga taua. Masalo o le’a iai ni feau e tatau ona e faia ao le’i aulia le aso ua ta’ua i lenei fa’asilasilaga ina ia e iai pea ma maua fesoasoani mai ai i le polokalame a le Malo olo’o e iai i ai. Olo’o iai iate oe le aia tatau e maua atu i lenei fa’asilasilaga ma lenei fa’matalaga i legagana e te malamalama i ai aunoa ma se togiga tupe. Vili atu i le telefoni 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). Español (Spanish): Este Aviso contiene información importante. Es posible que este aviso contenga información importante acerca de su solicitud o cobertura a través de Premera Blue Cross. Es posible que haya fechas clave en este aviso. Es posible que deba tomar alguna medida antes de determinadas fechas para mantener su cobertura médica o ayuda con los costos. Usted tiene derecho a recibir esta información y ayuda en su idioma sin costo alguno. Llame al 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). Tagalog (Tagalog): Ang Paunawa na ito ay naglalaman ng mahalagang impormasyon. Ang paunawa na ito ay maaaring naglalaman ng mahalagang impormasyon tungkol sa iyong aplikasyon o pagsakop sa pamamagitan ng Premera Blue Cross. Maaaring may mga mahalagang petsa dito sa paunawa. Maaring mangailangan ka na magsagawa ng hakbang sa ilang mga itinakdang panahon upang mapanatili ang iyong pagsakop sa kalusugan o tulong na walang gastos. May karapatan ka na makakuha ng ganitong impormasyon at tulong sa iyong wika ng walang gastos. Tumawag sa 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). ไทย (Thai): ประกาศนี ้มีข้อมูลสําคัญ ประกาศนี ้อาจมีข้อมูลที่สําคัญเกี่ยวกับการการสมัครหรื อขอบเขตประกัน สุขภาพของคุณผ่าน Premera Blue Cross และอาจมีกําหนดการในประกาศนี ้ คุณอาจจะต้ อง ดําเนินการภายในกําหนดระยะเวลาที่แน่นอนเพื่อจะรักษาการประกันสุขภาพของคุณหรื อการช่วยเหลือที่ มีค่าใช้ จ่าย คุณมีสิทธิที่จะได้ รับข้ อมูลและความช่วยเหลือนี ้ในภาษาของคุณโดยไม่มีค่าใช้ จ่าย โทร 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357) Український (Ukrainian): Це повідомлення містить важливу інформацію. Це повідомлення може містити важливу інформацію про Ваше звернення щодо страхувального покриття через Premera Blue Cross. Зверніть увагу на ключові дати, які можуть бути вказані у цьому повідомленні. Існує імовірність того, що Вам треба буде здійснити певні кроки у конкретні кінцеві строки для того, щоб зберегти Ваше медичне страхування або отримати фінансову допомогу. У Вас є право на отримання цієї інформації та допомоги безкоштовно на Вашій рідній мові. Дзвоніть за номером телефону 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357). Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese): Thông báo này cung cấp thông tin quan trọng. Thông báo này có thông tin quan trọng về đơn xin tham gia hoặc hợp đồng bảo hiểm của quý vị qua chương trình Premera Blue Cross. Xin xem ngày quan trọng trong thông báo này. Quý vị có thể phải thực hiện theo thông báo đúng trong thời hạn để duy trì bảo hiểm sức khỏe hoặc được trợ giúp thêm về chi phí. Quý vị có quyền được biết thông tin này và được trợ giúp bằng ngôn ngữ của mình miễn phí. Xin gọi số 800-722-1471 (TTY: 800-842-5357).