Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Thu, January 8, 2009
Wed, January 7, 2009 California, New York, and Texas State Medicaid Programs Approve Coverage for ZOLL LifeVest
CHELMSFORD, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ GS: ZOLL), a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and related software solutions, announced today that the ZOLL LifeVest® Wearable Defibrillator is now covered by the three largest state Medicaid programs in the country—California, New York and Texas, which combined represent a total of over 13 million covered lives. Medi-Cal in California provides health care coverage and prescription coverage to a monthly average of 6.5 million low-income senior citizens, children and families, and people with disabilities, while New York covers over 4.5 million and Texas has over 2.5 million enrolled.
The LifeVest, the first and only wearable defibrillator, is worn by patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while plans are made to manage their long-term arrhythmic risk, including the decision to implant a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The LifeVest has a 98% first shock success rate for treating patients with SCA. In addition, no bystander intervention is required. This unique, non-invasive technology continuously monitors the patient's heart and, if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device alerts the patient prior to delivering a shock. The device releases a conductive gel onto the therapy electrodes to protect the skin, and then delivers a shock to restore normal heart rhythm. The entire event, from detecting a life-threatening arrhythmia to automatically delivering a defibrillation shock, usually occurs in less than a minute. Timely defibrillation is the single most important factor in saving a SCA victim's life.
"With the three largest state Medicaid programs now covering the LifeVest, as well as many other medium and small state Medicaid plans, the critical importance of this life- saving device is apparent," said Richard A. Packer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZOLL. "Since LifeVest requires no bystander intervention, it offers high-risk patients and their families' peace of mind. For insurance companies, it's cost effective to cover LifeVest since it reduces a patient's need for a long hospital stay."
There are two main components to the LifeVest: a garment and a monitor. The garment is worn under clothing and records arrhythmias, including before and after treatment. If it detects a life-threatening rhythm, the device alerts the patient, who if conscious can prevent the shock. If the patient is unconscious, the device delivers an electric shock to attempt to restore normal rhythm. The lightweight monitor weighs about 1.8 pounds and is worn around the waist or from a shoulder strap, making it the only wearable external defibrillator available. Patients wearing the LifeVest are encouraged to wear the device continuously, excluding time when bathing or showering.
The LifeVest is specifically approved by Medicaid and other insurers for those at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The LifeVest may be prescribed to patients following a heart attack, before or after bypass surgery or stent placement, as well as for those with cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure. It may also be prescribed for patients who can't have immediate implant surgery for an ICD, including those recovering from infections caused by ICDs. The amount of coverage for each indication is determined by the approving insurance company's policy.
Over half of the Medicaid programs in the United States are now covering the LifeVest and more are coming online each month. Since state Medicaid plans represent large populations in every state, this marks a significant step in the LifeVest evolution. Over 1,200 health plans, both commercial and state plans, now offer reimbursement for the LifeVest.
To date, LifeVest has been prescribed for over 12,000 patients and there have been over 2,000 years of cumulative patient time wearing LifeVest.
About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation is committed to developing technologies that help advance the practice of resuscitation. With products for pacing, defibrillation, circulation, ventilation, and fluid resuscitation, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies, including Real CPR Help® and See-Thru CPR®, that help clinicians, EMS professionals, and lay rescuers resuscitate sudden cardiac arrest or trauma victims. ZOLL also designs and markets software that automates the documentation and management of both clinical and non-clinical information.
ZOLL markets and sells its products in more than 140 countries. The Company has direct operations, distributor networks, and business partners throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia, and Australia. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of ZOLL's resuscitation product development. For more information, visit [ www.zoll.com ].
Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements regarding the future business of the Company,and other statements contained herein regarding matters that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking" statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995).Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 8, 2008. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release, and the Company disavows any obligation to update or supplement those statements in the event of any changes in the facts, circumstances, or expectations that underlie those statements.
Copyright © 2008 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. 269 Mill Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4105. ZOLL, LifeVest, Real CPR Help, and See-Thru CPR are registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation. All product names are the property of their respective owners.
