Lucid Diagnostics Submits Clinical Evidence Package to MolDX Seeking Medicare Coverage for EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test

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NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: LUCD) ("Lucid" or the "Company") a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM), today announced that it has submitted its complete clinical evidence package for its EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test in support of a Request for Reconsideration of Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39256 "MolDX: Molecular Testing for Detection of Upper Gastrointestinal Metaplasia, Dysplasia, and Neoplasia" to Molecular Diagnostics Program (MolDX), administered by Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to seek coverage for EsoGuard.

Lucid Diagnostics Inc., markets the first and only commercial tools for widespread early detection of esophageal precancer and cancer – the EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test and EsoCheck® Esophageal Cell Collection Device. (PRNewsfoto/Lucid Diagnostics)
Lucid Diagnostics Inc., markets the first and only commercial tools for widespread early detection of esophageal precancer and cancer – the EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test and EsoCheck® Esophageal Cell Collection Device. (PRNewsfoto/Lucid Diagnostics)

"This submission is the culmination of many years of persistent hard work by our team and our many clinical research partners, and represents perhaps the most important milestone in Lucid's history," said Lishan Aklog, M.D., Lucid's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe the data in this package strongly supports EsoGuard's clinical validity, utility, and analytical accuracy, aligning with the MolDX criteria for coverage as outlined in the LCD. The clinical validity data, in particular, demonstrates EsoGuard's unprecedented precancer detection performance across all studies. We look forward to the opportunity to expand access to EsoGuard precancer testing to all at-risk Medicare beneficiaries."

The EsoGuard clinical evidence package includes six new peer-reviewed publications: three clinical validation studies (two in the intended use population, one case control), two clinical utility studies, and one analytical validation study. The current LCD provides clear coverage criteria consistent with the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines for esophageal precancer testing. The package was submitted as part of a request for reconsideration of the non-coverage language in the LCD to secure Medicare coverage for EsoGuard.

About Lucid Diagnostics
Lucid Diagnostics Inc. is a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company, and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM). Lucid is focused on the millions of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as chronic heartburn, who are at risk of developing esophageal precancer and cancer. Lucid's EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test, performed on samples collected in a brief, noninvasive office procedure with its EsoCheck® Esophageal Cell Collection Device, represent the first and only commercially available tools designed with the goal of preventing cancer and cancer deaths through widespread, early detection of esophageal precancer in at-risk patients.