Lucid Diagnostics Secures First Positive Commercial Insurance Coverage Policy for its EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test

Rhea-AI Summary

Lucid Diagnostics (LUCD) has achieved a significant milestone with its first positive commercial insurance coverage for the EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in New York state. The regional BCBS plan will cover non-invasive screening of esophageal precancer and cancer for patients meeting established professional society guidelines for testing.

This landmark coverage decision is expected to serve as a precedent for other commercial insurers to follow suit. According to Dr. Lishan Aklog, Lucid's Chairman and CEO, this development validates their clinical evidence base. The company continues to engage with commercial insurers nationwide to expand access to EsoGuard precancer testing.

Positive

• First commercial insurance coverage secured for EsoGuard test
• Coverage by major insurer (Highmark BCBS) validates clinical evidence
• Potential catalyst for additional insurance coverage approvals

Negative

• Coverage to New York state only
• Coverage restricted to patients meeting specific testing criteria

Regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plan will cover non-invasive screening of esophageal precancer and cancer

NEW YORK, March 13, 2025 /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 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, has issued a positive coverage policy for non-invasive screening of esophageal precancer and cancer in New York state. The new policy will cover Lucid's EsoGuard^® Esophageal DNA Test in patients who meet established criteria for esophageal precancer testing consistent with professional society guidelines.

"This positive policy coverage decision by a commercial insurer is a landmark event for Lucid," said Lishan Aklog, M.D., Lucid's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that this decision will serve as a precedent to drive positive policy coverage decisions from other commercial insurers and further validates the strength of our clinical evidence base. We remain deeply engaged with commercial insurers across the country as we seek to expand access to EsoGuard precancer testing."

About Lucid Diagnostics

Lucid Diagnostics Inc. is a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company, and subsidiary of (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.

For more information, please visit www.luciddx.com and for more information about its parent company PAVmed, please visit www.pavmed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are any statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Lucid's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things, volatility in the price of Lucid's common stock; general economic and market conditions; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the cost and time required to advance Lucid's products to regulatory submission; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from Lucid's clinical and preclinical studies; whether and when Lucid's products are cleared by regulatory authorities; market acceptance of Lucid's products once cleared and commercialized; Lucid's ability to raise additional funding as needed; and other competitive developments. In addition, Lucid continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic's impact on Lucid's businesses. These factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond Lucid's control. In addition, new risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect Lucid's future operations, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in Lucid's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may be updated in Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Lucid Diagnostics after its most recent Annual Report.  Lucid disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Lucid Diagnostics

FAQ

What insurance coverage did Lucid Diagnostics (LUCD) secure for EsoGuard in March 2025?

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield approved coverage for EsoGuard Esophageal DNA Test in New York state for patients meeting established precancer testing criteria.

How will the Highmark BCBS coverage decision impact Lucid Diagnostics (LUCD)?

The decision is expected to serve as a precedent for other commercial insurers and validates the company's clinical evidence base.

What is the significance of EsoGuard's first commercial insurance coverage for LUCD investors?

It represents a landmark achievement that could lead to broader insurance coverage, potentially increasing test adoption and revenue.

What are the limitations of LUCD's new insurance coverage for EsoGuard?

The coverage is currently to New York state and only applies to patients who meet specific professional society guidelines for testing.