Axena Health launches telehealth service for women seeking incontinence treatment
The US is experiencing a growing shortage of OB-GYNs
While urinary incontinence (UI) affects more than 60% of adult women in the US, there’s also a growing shortage of OB-GYNs meaning it can sometimes be difficult to get help.
This insight has led medical device company Axena Health to offer its Leva Pelvic Health System via a new telehealth service for women seeking first-line incontinence treatment.
Axena is collaborating with UpScriptHealth for its new offering which connects women with prescribing clinicians who can evaluate their incontinence symptoms and, if appropriate, prescribe the Leva System.
The new telehealth service will allow faster and easier access for women to incontinence treatment, while improving individual outcomes and decreasing overall costs for the healthcare system.
Axena Health’s Interim CEO Jim O’Connor commented:
“Nearly half of U.S. women skipped a preventive care service in 2022, with difficulty scheduling an appointment among the most common causes.
“Telehealth can be an important part of fixing this distressing gap in care. We remain steadfast in our commitment to breaking down barriers to first-line care for urinary incontinence, whether the normalization by adult diaper industry or the disparity in insurance coverage for women’s health conditions such as urinary incontinence.
“We believe this new offering in partnership with UpScriptHealth can help women who have had difficulty accessing first-line treatment.”
A significant issue
Urinary incontinence (UI) affects more than 60 percent of U.S. adult women: over 28 million U.S. women experience moderate to severe UI.
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a globally recommended first-line treatment for UI. However, PFMT can be difficult to perform correctly without guidance. The Leva System can help women access PFTM successfully, enabling them to treat UI without medications or surgery.
After completing a brief questionnaire that captures medical history and symptom information, a woman will have a short, private online consultation with a healthcare provider from UpScriptHealth, who will explain the Leva System and, if appropriate, write a prescription. Next, the Leva Women’s Center will reach out to discuss insurance coverage and out of pocket costs. There’s no obligation to move forward with treatment.
The Leva Pelvic Health System (HCPCS Level II code, S9002) is a small, flexible intra-vaginal probe embedded with multiple motion sensors, that helps women perform PFMT correctly to treat UI.
A progressive disorder, UI typically worsens with age. Untreated, it can lead to significant negative comorbidities. The Leva System is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared to treat stress, mixed and mild-to-moderate urgency UI (including overactive bladder) as well as chronic fecal incontinence in women. It requires just five minutes of use per day, typically over eight to twelve weeks, which women can do at home, on their own schedule.
Sarah Jenkins, Executive Director at the National Association for Continence, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Axena Health for launching this innovative telehealth platform”
“Access to care is a growing issue, particularly in women’s health and for those outside major cities. This initiative will significantly enhance access to treatment for urinary incontinence, empowering more women to manage their health with greater convenience and confidence.”