--- title: "Screening: Insurance Provider Benefits | CDx Technology" description: Learn how CDx Diagnostics partners with insurance providers to improve patient outcomes with AI-driven tissue analysis and early cancer detection. --- Close # Making Prevention Possible Innovative proprietary preemptive screening technologies from CDx help improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for payers.               ## Each year, esophageal cancer kills more Americans than cervical cancer and melanoma combined.  ### Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of the most fatal and fastest-growing cancers.  #### *“By 2025, the prevalence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is expected to increase by 140%.”** **Ruberstein JH Risk Factors for Barrett’s esophagus. Curr Opin Gatrone* While chronic heartburn (or GERD) is the most common risk factor for developing Barrett’s esophagus, other at-risk groups include: - Males - Obese patients - Tobacco users - Those >50 years of age The cost to payers for screening and surveillance of Barrett's esophagus continues to increase yearly. Yet, the 5-year survival of esophageal adenocarcinoma remains miserable, in part, due to the limitations of the Seattle protocol. ![Seattle-Protocol800](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/images/Seattle-Protocol800.jpg) ### WATS3D has become the standard of care when used adjunctively to the Seattle protocol. The Seattle random forceps biopsy protocol does not reliably detect Barrett’s esophagus or dysplasia, which are precursors to esophageal adenocarcinoma.  ![WATS3D-Overcoming-Limitation](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/images/WATS3D-Overcoming-Limitation.jpg) ### WATS3D is the Solution WATS3D (Wide-Area Transepithelial Tissue Sampling with computer-assisted 3D analysis), when used as an adjunct to standard biopsy sampling,  has been shown to reliably detect unhealthy cells before they develop into cancer. WATS3D is endorsed for both screening and surveillance of patients with suspected or known Barrett's esophagus , as an adjunct to routine biopsies, in  the recently published Guidelines of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). [Learn More](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/wats3d?hsLang=en) ## Aligned with professional guidelines.* ![wats3d-logo-dark](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/logos/wats3d-logo-dark.svg) ### ASGE Recommendation:  * “In patients with known or suspected BE, we suggest using WATS3D in addition to WLE with Seattle protocol biopsy sampling compared with WLE with Seattle protocol biopsy sampling alone”* **ASGE guideline on Barrett’s (GI Endosc 90(3) 2019 page 351)* ## WATS3D is helping make esophageal cancer a potentially preventable disease. [![BobWebb-Video](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6604993/assets/images/images/BobWebb-Video.jpeg) ##### Hear Bob Webb tell his story ](https://vimeo.com/331051586) [ ##### Hear Dr. Anthony Infantolino discuss Bob’s case from a Physician’s perspective ](https://vimeo.com/319020369) ## Why Payers Support WATS3D ![enhanced patients outcomes icom](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/icons/custom/icons-enhanced-patients-outcomes.svg) #### Enhanced Patient Outcomes EAC is preventable if detected and treated early. WATS3D has demonstrated the ability to improve patient outcomes by having a direct impact on the clinical management in 97% of patients diagnosed with BE, LGD or HGD. --- ***Clinical utility of wide-area transepithelial sampling with three-dimensional computer-assisted analysis (WATS3D) in identifying Barrett’s esophagus and associated neoplasia.*** Vivek Kaul, Seth Gross, F Scott Corbett, Zubair Malik, Michael S Smith, Christina Tofani, Anthony Infantolino Diseases of the Esophagus, July, 01 2020 [https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doaa069](https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doaa069) ![icon-patients-1](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/icons/custom/icon-patients-1.svg) #### Improved Population Health More than half of the US population is now over the age of 50, an age that is at increased risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma.  Detecting dysplasia early and treating, it has the potential to reduce the incidence of this deadly disease. ***The addition of WATS3D per 1,000 patients results in approximately 3 fewer cancers and 3 fewer cancer-related deaths*.  ** --- ***Wide Area Transepithelial Sampling with Computer-Assisted Analysis (WATS3D) Is Cost-Effective in Barrett’s Esophagus.*** Screening. Singer ME. Gross S, Kaul V, Smith MS. 449. Digestive Diseases and Sciences: June 23, 2020. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06412-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06412-1) ![icons-cost-effectiveness](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/images/icons/custom/icons-cost-effectiveness.svg) #### Cost-Effectiveness WATS3D when used adjunctively to standard forceps biopsy is more cost-effective for Barrett's esophagus screening compared to forceps biopsy alone.  Screening with WATS3D costs an additional $1,219 and produced an additional 0.017 QALYs, for an ICER of $71,395/QALY. --- ***Wide Area Transepithelial Sampling with Computer-Assisted Analysis (WATS3D) Is Cost-Effective in Barrett’s Esophagus.*** Screening. Singer ME. Gross S, Kaul V, Smith MS. Digestive Diseases and Sciences: June 23, 2020. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06412-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06412-1) ## CPT Coding ## The following table shows typical billing codes used for WATS3D procedures. | **CPT Code** | **CPT Descriptor** | **Maximum Daily Units** | | --- | --- | --- | | 88104 | Cytopathology, fluids, washings or brushing, except cervical or vaginal | 1 | | 88305 | Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination | 1 | | 88312 | Special stain including interpretation and report | 1 | | 88361 | Morphimetric analysis, tumor immunohistochemistry (e.g., Her2nue, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor), quantitative or semi-quantitative, each antibody, using computer-assisted technology | 4 |   *One kit for each 5cm of at-risk mucosa. ![WATS3D-Study-Chart](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WATS3D-Study-Chart.jpg?width=506&name=WATS3D-Study-Chart.jpg)   ## Clinical Studies on the Adjunct Use of WATS3D | **Study/Year:** | **# of Patients:** | **Study Design:** | **Study Population:** | **Main Results:** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Smith et al. [*Dis of the Esophagus (2018)*](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/resources/Wide-area%20transepithelial%20sampling%20with%20computer-assisted%203-dimensional%20analysis%20(WATS)%20markedly%20improves%20detection%20of%20esophageal%20dysplasia%20and%20Barretts%20esophagus-%20analysis%20from%20a%20prospective%20multicenter%20community-based%20study.pdf?hsLang=en) | 12,899 | Prospective Randomized | Community Based | ⇪Barrett’s   153% ⇪Dysplasia  242% | | Gross et al. [*United European Gastroenterol J (2018)*](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/resources/Increased%20detection%20of%20Barrett%E2%80%99s%20esophagus%20and%20esophageal%20dysplasia%20with%20adjunctive%20use%20of%20wide-area%20transepithelial%20sample%20with%20three-dimensional%20computer-assisted%20analysis%20(WATS).pdf?hsLang=en) | 4,203 | Prospective | Community Based | ⇪Barrett’s 83% ⇪Dysplasia 89% | | Vennalaganti et al. [*Gastrointest Endosc (2018)*](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/resources/Increased%20detection%20of%20Barretts%20esophagus-associated%20neoplasia%20using%20Wide-Area%20Trans-epithelial%20Sampling-%20A%20multicenter%2c%20prospective%2c%20randomized%20trial.pdf?hsLang=en) | 160 16 Med Centers | Prospective Randomized | Academic Centers (High Risk) | ⇪High-Grade Dysplasia  428% | | Anandasabapathy et al. [*Dig Dis Sci (2011)*](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/resources/Computer-assisted%20brushbiopsy%20analysis%20for%20the%20detection%20of%20dysplasia%20in%20a%20high-risk%20Barretts%20esophagus%20surveillance%20population.pdf?hsLang=en) | 151 | Prospective | Academic Centers | ⇪Dysplasia 42% | | Johanson et al. [*Dig Dis Sci (2011)*](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/hubfs/assets/resources/Computer-assisted%20analysis%20of%20abrasive%20transepithelial%20brush%20biopsies%20increases%20the%20effectiveness%20of%20esophageal%20screening.pdf?hsLang=en) | 1,266 | Prospective Randomized | Community Based | ⇪Barrett’s 70.5% ⇪Dysplasia 87.5% |     [See More](https://www.cdxdiagnostics.com/wats3d-resources?hsLang=en) ## See how WATS3D technology improves patient outcomes. 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