HeartFlow, Inc. has announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved the recommendation by the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) to provide reimbursement for the HeartFlow FFRct Analysis.

The HeartFlow Analysis has already received regulatory approval from the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Reimbursement will go into effect beginning December 1, 2018, enabling greater access for patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The HeartFlow Analysis is a non-invasive, personalized cardiac test that applies artificial intelligence to image data taken from a standard coronary computed tomography (CT) scan to create a digital 3D model of the patient’s arteries. It then applies advanced algorithms to solve millions of complex equations to assess the impact any blockages have on blood flow to the heart. The HeartFlow Analysis is provided via a secure online interface to offer actionable information to enable clinicians to determine the optimal course of treatment.

“Adding the HeartFlow Analysis to the anatomical information provided by a coronary CT angiogram enables us to better detect and treat CAD,” said Hiroyoshi Yokoi, M.D., Director, Cardiovascular Center, Fukuoka Sanno Hospital and Vice Chairman, Japan Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics. “With the broader availability of the HeartFlow Analysis, physicians in Japan will be able to more efficiently diagnose CAD while minimizing unnecessary tests or delaying care for patients.”