A South Korean-developed excretion care robot has been granted a code by the United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), allowing it to be covered by U.S. public health insurance. This approval follows its earlier success in Japan, opening access to the world’s largest market.
Curaco announced on July 31 that its excretion care robot, ‘Carebidet,’ has received a CMS code, making it eligible for public health insurance reimbursement in the U.S..
The Carebidet robot is designed to assist elderly or disabled patients who are bedridden and cannot move easily. The device automatically handles the patient’s excretion by activating sensors when the patient excretes and then using a bidet function to wash and dry the patient’s buttocks. Waste collected in a sewage tank must be emptied only once or twice daily. However, the device faced challenges in the U.S. market due to a need for insurance codes for this type of medical equipment.
CMS classified Carebidet under a new code, categorizing it as durable medical equipment (DME) necessary for treating a beneficiary’s illness or injury at home. A Curaco representative said, “This classification by CMS, with an annual reimbursement of $633, means Carebidet is now a recognized product within the U.S. healthcare system, available by physician prescription.”
Carebidet is priced at $19,500 in the U.S.. The company offers a monthly rental option for $400-600, amounting to about $5,000 annually, with public insurance covering $633 of this cost.
The demand for Carebidet is expected to grow with the aging population. Bedridden patients often require continuous assistance, and with an increasing need for care, many families face the challenge of finding caregivers. One challenging task is managing the excretion of bedridden patients, as delayed care can lead to skin diseases and bedsores.
Curaco CEO Lee Hoon-sang stated, “Carebidet offers dignity by allowing patients to handle excretion without assistance, and it reduces both physical and financial burdens for caregivers.
Curaco secured inclusion in Japan’s long-term care insurance system in 2018. Established in 2000, this system supports individuals requiring care due to illness or injury. With its success in both Japan and the U.S., Curaco has become a leading technology provider.
The U.S. CMS, a federal agency covering over 160 million people, has recognized the significance of this achievement. Choy Young-bin, director of the Innovative Medical Technology Research Institute at Seoul National University Hospital, said, “Obtaining a CMS code in the U.S. is a significant accomplishment for a Korean medical device company, demonstrating both market entry and recognition of the company’s technological capabilities.”
Despite Carebidet’s registration as an insurance-supported product in the U.S. and Japan, it has yet to be included in Korea’s long-term care insurance system. Although the Korea Medical Device Development Fund named it one of the top 10 representative projects for 2024, without insurance coverage, it remains challenging for general patients to access the device. Carebidet is priced at 11 million won in Korea, with a monthly rental fee of 279,000 won.
