CVRx’s Barostim Gains New CPT Codes

The American Medical Association’s CPT Editorial Panel has accepted new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Category 1 codes for CVRx Inc.’s baroreflex activation therapy (Barostim) to treat heart failure symptoms.

The AMA CPT Editorial Panel accepted the application for Category I CPT codes due to the Barostim therapy’s increased use and strong clinical evidence supporting its outcomes. The decision will help facilitate reimbursement for healthcare providers performing the Barostim procedure and enable broader patient access, according to CVRx.

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) led the CPT code effort and received support from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and others. The codes will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2026; in the meantime, U.S. hospitals and physicians performing Barostim procedures should continue to use the existing Category III codes.

“We are very pleased the AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel approved the conversion to Category I codes,” CVRx CEO Kevin Hykes said. “The Category I code designation represents an important milestone for the company and is a testament to the increased adoption, safety, and effectiveness of Barostim as an important option for patients suffering from the debilitating symptoms of heart failure. We greatly appreciate the support and guidance that SVS and ACC provided throughout this process.”

CVRx developed and commercializes the Barostim System, the first medical technology approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that uses neuromodulation to improve heart failure symptoms. Barostim is an implantable device that delivers electrical pulses to baroreceptors located in the carotid artery wall. Baroreceptors activate the body’s baroreflex, which in turn triggers an autonomic response to the heart. The therapy is designed to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system and thereby reduce heart failure symptoms. Barostim received FDA Breakthrough Device designation and is FDA-approved for use in U.S. heart failure patients. It has also received the CE Mark for heart failure and resistant hypertension in the Europe.