Bronchial Thermoplasty

Bronchial thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic therapeutic procedure to reduce airway smooth muscle offered as an add‑on treatment for adults with severe, persistent, treatment‑refractory asthma (typically step 5–6 disease not controlled on optimized inhaled corticosteroid/LABA therapy and other medical management). Coverage requires prior optimized, stepped care including environmental control, education and trials of pharmacotherapies (including biologics when appropriate), objective evidence of asthma and reversible obstruction, completion of a three‑session outpatient treatment course about three weeks apart, and exclusion of patients with active infection, recent exacerbation, bleeding disorders, implanted devices or relevant drug sensitivities; evidence is limited and some payers consider the procedure experimental/investigational and not covered.

"Bronchial thermoplasty as a treatment option for individuals with severe persistent asthma"