MedtechLAUNCH: Reimbursement is the Business Model

For medtech entrepreneurs, reimbursement is not simply a market access issue at the end of product development. It is a critical part of the business model—and the earlier you understand the pathway, the better positioned you are to build for commercial success.

For start-ups, or any innovation, a great technology and compelling clinical data are only part of the equation. If there is not a clear path to coding, coverage, and payment, there may not be a viable path to commercialization.

Reimbursement strategy needs to begin early—often well before a product reaches the market. Decisions around clinical trial design, evidence generation, target patient populations, site of care, pricing, and go-to-market strategy can all be influenced by how—and whether—a technology will ultimately be reimbursed.

In this MedtechLAUNCH session, experienced market access and coding specialists with deep medical device expertise will break down the fundamentals of coding, coverage, and payment and explain what emerging companies need to understand as they build their commercialization strategy.

We will also hear the real-world perspective of a medtech CEO who successfully navigated the process of securing a new code for an innovative technology—sharing what the journey actually required, what she learned along the way, and what she would advise other entrepreneurs to consider earlier.

The conversation will explore questions including:

• When should a start-up begin developing its reimbursement strategy?
• Does an existing code adequately describe your technology—or will you need a new one?
• What evidence will payers need, and how should those requirements influence clinical development?
• How do site of care and payment dynamics affect pricing and commercialization?
• What happens when regulatory approval comes before reimbursement readiness?
• How should reimbursement realities factor into fundraising, valuation, and conversations with potential strategic partners?