Highlights

The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigned the Minder implant procedure to Ambulatory Payment Classification 5117 under the 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule.

Minder is implanted through a minimally invasive subscalp procedure, making the hospital outpatient department a relevant setting.

The reimbursement development follows an expanded paediatric clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and the enrolment of the 100th participant in Epiminder’s DETECT study, announced in October 2026.

A defined outpatient payment can help US hospitals assess the costs and reimbursement associated with the procedure.

Medical device developer Epiminder Limited (ASX:EPI) is preparing its Minder epilepsy-monitoring system for broader US use. Hospital reimbursement is a practical consideration for procedures involving implantable devices, particularly when costs are incurred in an outpatient setting. A finalised Medicare payment determination for calendar 2027 has now established a higher national amount for the Minder implant procedure.

Medicare Sets a New National Rate

The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigned the Minder implant procedure to Ambulatory Payment Classification 5117 under the 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule. The national Medicare payment rate was set at US$31,265, compared with US$27,700 in 2026. The increase is approximately 13%, and the new payment arrangement is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

Outpatient Use Frames the Decision

Minder is implanted through a minimally invasive subscalp procedure, making the hospital outpatient department a relevant setting. The Medicare payment is intended to cover the hospital’s costs for the procedure, including the implanted device, with national amounts adjusted for local hospital wage levels. The published national amount is therefore not necessarily the exact amount any individual hospital will receive for every case.

Clearance and Clinical Recruitment Progress

The reimbursement development follows an expanded paediatric clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and the enrolment of the 100th participant in Epiminder’s DETECT study, announced in October 2026. The company expects study enrolment to reach 125 participants by December 2026. These developments relate to different parts of commercial and clinical readiness: regulatory permission, clinical evidence generation and reimbursement arrangements.

Commercial Uptake Still Must Follow

A defined outpatient payment can help US hospitals assess the costs and reimbursement associated with the procedure. It does not itself confirm the Volume of implants, patient eligibility or future company revenue. The rate takes effect at the start of 2027; hospital adoption and continuing execution of the study will determine subsequent progress. The announced reimbursement number is a Medicare hospital payment, not a stated selling price for the device.