Home Phototherapy: Clinical Insights, Coverage, and Technology for Safer Prescribing

There is no maximum dose. Guided Mode provides safety guiderails that prevent the patient from administering a dose beyond the prescribed protocol. Treatment dose is based on the last administered dose/initial parameters of the protocol and how the patient responds to the question, “Were you in pain or red after your last treatment?”

Yes, Guided Mode will allow a maximum of four treatments per day. This safeguard prevents overexposure while allowing patients to change position and treat their full body.

Yes, there are UV sensors mounted inside the unit that track lamp output in real time. This improves efficacy compared to traditional time-only exposures by ensuring consistent dosage delivery methods between treatments.

Patients taking photosensitizing medications may still benefit from phototherapy. This should be taken under consideration during your counseling sessions with the patients. Considerations towards maximum dose, dose progression, treatment frequency, etc. should be taken.

The Phothera 100 duty cycle helps maintain device safety and reliability after extended continuous use. This safeguard ensures optimal lamp performance and longevity over time. Typical patient treatments are well within that window, so it does not affect standard use or patient workflow. Phothera continues to evaluate design improvements to further enhance performance. Alternatively, the Phothera 100XL does not have the duty cycle and would be a suitable replacement for the Phothera 100.

Guided Mode was designed with both accessibility and safety in mind. Its intuitive touchscreen interface and clear, easy-to-follow prompts guide patients through each treatment step with confidence. The language and instructions were validated during the LITE Study, the largest real-world clinical trial of home phototherapy, which included a diverse patient population across more than 40 sites. Based on this experience, we’re confident the system is simple to use and easily understood by most patients, including adolescents.

Replacement lamps do not receive the same coverage as they are not reimbursable by insurance. Lamp life is determined based on the type of lamp, which breaks down as follows:

Phothera 100 and 100XL: 9W PL-S Lamp, 200-250 use hours (UVB), 400-500 use hours (UVA).

Phothera 200 and 400: 20W PL-L Lamp, 300 use hours (UVB), 500 use hours (UVA).

Phothera 600: 100W T12 Lamp, 300 use hours (UVB), 500 use hours (UVA).

*Lamp hours are based on the time that the lamps are turned on, not just that the unit is powered on.

If the patient continuously treated throughout the year, 3 times per week at 10 minutes per session, the lamp life above would last the patient 5 – 7 years. Most insurance plans qualify the patient for a new device after that much time has passed. Therefore, it’s cheaper for the patient to just get a new device rather than replace their lamps.

Guided Mode is Phothera’s new built-in treatment protocol system that standardizes narrowband UVB dosing according to AAD clinical guidelines. It ensures the same precision and safety patients receive in-office — now at home.

Beginning Q1, all new Phothera home phototherapy devices will include Guided Mode by default.
The transition is driven by improvements in patient safety, adherence, and efficacy — ensuring every patient receives a medically appropriate, evidence-based regimen automatically.

Automatically sets and limits dose escalation per protocol

Built-in lockout prevents overexposure

Monitors total cumulative dose for safety thresholds

Yes. Phothera’s Guided Mode technology is FDA-cleared.
No hardware change — the update is software-driven to ensure dosing precision.

Patients will see a new “Guided Mode” treatment screen that automatically sets exposure times and treatment frequency.
They’ll also receive simplified instructions emphasizing adherence and built-in safety checks. No manual calibration is needed.

Yes — coverage is unchanged and stronger than ever:

Phothera handles all claims, prior authorizations, and appeals

No upfront payment — devices ship once Rx is received

Phothera Cares offers $0 copay eligibility and payment plans for others

Most prescriptions are processed and shipped within 3 business days of Rx receipt.

Guided Mode covers all existing clinical indications:
Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Atopic Dermatitis, CTCL/Mycosis Fungoides, and Chronic Pruritus.

No — prescribing workflow remains identical. Skin type is required on the prescription.
Providers continue using the same Rx form. Guided Mode simply ensures each patient’s treatment plan follows evidence-based dosing automatically.

Please contact customer support at [email protected]