Cambridge Heart Announces Unique Reimbursement Code and Medicare Payment Amount for Microvolt T-Wave Alternans

Electronic Filing and Payment for Claims to be Available January 2003


 

Bedford MA – January 1st, 2003 -- Cambridge Heart, Inc. (NASDAQ-CAMH) announced today that a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code with a specific Medicare payment amount for its Microvolt T-Wave Alternans testing has been published in the Federal Register. Effective January 1, 2003, CPT code 93025 may be billed electronically. The national Medicare payment amount for the test will be $400.

The code is unique to Microvolt T-Wave Alternans and may be used alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic cardiovascular tests when submitting for reimbursement of claims to either Medicare or private insurers. For the first time, providers will be able to file for reimbursement of a Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Test electronically and be confident of the amount of payment.

"We are pleased to see a reimbursement amount for Microvolt T-Wave Alternans that reflects its importance as a key tool in the diagnostic armamentarium of the cardiologist," stated David A. Chazanovitz, President and CEO of Cambridge Heart, Inc. "Our customers can now perform an alternans test on appropriate patients knowing that the reimbursement filing process has been simplified and that a reasonable payment is available."

Mr. Chazanovitz also stated, "This removes a significant barrier to our efforts to increase market penetration and establish broad clinical use of our technology and ultimately establish Microvolt T-Wave Alternans as a standard of care for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death."