CMS, Blues to cover LVAD as destination therapy: heart failure patients. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, left ventricular assist devices).(Cardiovascular Medicine)

Publication: Internal Medicine News

Publication Date: 15-NOV-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 International Medical News Group

WASHINGTON -- The decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy in patients with chronic end-stage heart failure is "extremely good news," according to Dr. Mandeep Mehra, head of the heart failure and cardiac transplantation program at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans.

Dr. Walter Dembitsky, medical director of the mechanical assist device program at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, welcomed the decision because it will open new possibilities for heart failure patients unlikely to be considered for heart transplants and therefore unable to qualify for devices under previous CMS coverage criteria for use as "bridge therapy."

Private insurers usually follow Medicare's lead in coverage matters. Although most LVAD candidates are over 65, there are also younger patients who are not covered by Medicare and have contraindications to transplant other than age, such as...

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