Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Launch of New Code Coincides with Liver Awareness Month, a Time to Make Liver Health a National Health Care Priority

LAVAL, QC , Oct. 3, 2022 /CNW/ — Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC ) (“Bausch Health”) and its gastroenterology business, Salix Pharmaceuticals, (“Salix”), one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) plus liver diseases and disorders, announced today, their endorsement of the implementation associated with K76. 82, an ICD-10 code from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a complication of cirrhosis that affects the brain. According to recent data, hospitalized patients readmitted within 30 days with HE have a 20% 1-year mortality rate. ¹

“A quick, widespread adoption of the particular K76. 82 code may help ensure a clearer identification of patients who are at more advanced stages associated with disease and at greater risk for liver-related mortality and other clinical events, ” explained Tage Ramakrishna , Chief Medical Officer and President of R& D of Salix. “Salix is helping to spread the word about the launch associated with the K76. 82 code in October which happens to coincide along with Liver Consciousness Month, a time dedicated in order to discussing the particular prevalence and impact of liver disease and increase awareness of liver health, plus the overarching need to bring liver organ diseases in order to the forefront as the national health care priority. ”

To help educate health care providers about the new K76. 82 program code, Salix developed a digital toolkit with regard to partners and professional organizations to share on their channels and with members. The digital toolkit includes a K76. 82 infographic and customizable assets to raise awareness and ownership of the new code.

“With the particular prevalence associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis expected to boost by 63% by 2030 in the United States , plus the potential for progression in order to cirrhosis, it is critical that we quickly align clinical documentation with the needs of this rapidly growing patient population, ” said Donna R. Cryer , JD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Global Liver Institute. “As the particular COVID epidemic has further exacerbated hospitalizations, disease severity, and deaths from chronic liver illness and undertreated complications of cirrhosis, such as hepatic encephalopathy, it is our hope that the new ICD-10 program code assignment will help raise awareness associated with this serious condition as well because other life-threatening complications of cirrhosis, increasing access plus care options for patients. inch

Healthcare providers can find more information about HE and download the most recently published Salix Liver Wellness Annual Trends Report, at liverhealthnow. com/trendsreport .

About Salix
Salix Pharmaceuticals is one of the particular largest specialty pharmaceutical companies on the planet committed to the prevention plus treatment associated with gastrointestinal illnesses. For more than 30 years, Salix has licensed, developed and marketed innovative products to improve patients’ lives plus arm healthcare providers along with life-changing solutions for many chronic and debilitating conditions. Salix currently markets its product line in order to U. S. medical care companies through an expanded sales force that focuses on gastroenterology, hepatology, pain specialists plus primary care. Salix is headquartered in Bridgewater, Brand new Jersey . For more information about Salix, visit www.Salix.com and connect with us upon Twitter plus LinkedIn .

About Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Bausch Wellness Companies Incorporation. (NYSE/TSX: BHC ) is a global diversified pharmaceutic company whose mission will be to improve people’s lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, international pharmaceuticals plus eye wellness, through our own approximately 88. 7% ownership of Bausch + Lomb. With our leading durable brands, we are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release might contain forward-looking statements regarding the future performance of the Company, which may generally be identified by the use of the words “anticipates, inches “hopes, ” “expects, inch “intends, inches “plans, ” “should, inch “could, inches “would, ” “may, inch “believes, inches “subject to” and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the particular current expectations and beliefs of management and are usually subject to certain risks and uncertainties that will could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to the Company’s overall business, including all those more fully described inside the Carrier’s most current annual report on Form 10-K plus detailed through time in order to time within the Company’s other filings using the U. H. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.

References

1. Kruger AJ, Aberra F, Black SM, et al. A validated risk model for prediction of early readmission in patients along with hepatic encephalopathy. Ann Hepatol. 2019; 18: 310-317

©2022 Salix Pharmaceuticals or the affiliates.
SAL. 0108. USA. 22

SOURCE Bausch Health Businesses Inc.