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Perfusion NewswireMobile ZoneUS Medicare Boosts Abiomed Heart Device Payment

US Medicare Boosts Abiomed Heart Device Payment

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CHICAGO (Reuters) – Abiomed Inc., developer of the first self-contained artificial heart, on Thursday said that the U.S. Medicare program boosted the payment rate to hospitals for its heart pumps.

After complaining to Medicare, the federal health insurance program for 41 million elderly and disabled, the company said the agency boosted reimbursement for the surgery and the device by 35 percent to 40 percent.

The company hopes that Medicare’s move to make it cheaper for hospitals to use the device will encourage use.

The heart pumps, which replace or improve the blood pumping action of the heart, are the company’s major revenue source.

Currently, the U.S. Medicare program pays hospitals $50,000 for the surgical procedure, device and hospital stay.

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