Abiomed's BVS 5000
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Will be covered by Medicare as of Oct. 18, the firm announced Oct. 5. The Health Care Financing Administration will reimburse for use of the external ventricular assist device (approved for marketing in November 1992) when it is used for "'FDA-approved labeled uses for postcardiotomy ventricular dysfunction,"" the company stated. The device, intended for "short term" use, will not be covered when used as a bridge to transplant.