CMS increases 2011 reimbursements for SynCardia artificial heart

Justine Varieur Cadet | | Health Imaging | Oncology Imaging
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved new technology add-on payments of up to $53,000 for the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) through its fiscal year 2011 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS) final rule. The decision is effective Oct. 1.

“Commenters supported our proposal to continue add-on payments for the TAH-t … for patients with bi-ventricular heart failure, the TAH-t continues to represent a substantial clinical improvement,” CMS stated in the PPS.

SynCardia Systems, manufacturer of the Total Artificial Heart, said that the use of its 13.5 lb Freedom portable driver increased the operating costs of the Total Artificial Heart. As a result, the Tucson, Ariz.-based company requested that the new technology add-on payment be increased accordingly. However, CMS noted that because the Freedom driver is undergoing an investigational device exemption study and is not FDA-approved, it is unable to increase the new technology add-on payments for FY 2011.

Justine Varieur Cadet

Related Content

MRI-first approach could allow many to safely forego prostate biopsy
MRI guidance significantly reduces radiotherapy side effects compared to CT
Interventional procedure often as effective as surgery for difficult-to-treat liver cancer
AI tumor volume estimations could improve prostate cancer treatment strategies
MRI could be 'powerful tool' for guiding surgery decisions in patients with rectal cancer
Breast cancer only visible via MRI is often less aggressive

Around the web

Radiology Business
The biggest obstacles facing radiology business managers in 2025

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Cardiovascular Business
New cardiac prevention paradigm explored in TRANSFORM trial using AI and CCTA

Deepak Bhatt, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and principal investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, explains an emerging technique for cardiac screening: combining coronary CT angiography with artificial intelligence for plaque analysis to create an approach similar to mammography.

Cardiovascular Business
Cardiology practices pay $17.7M to settle fraud allegations brought on by whistleblowers

A total of 16 cardiology practices from 12 states settled with the DOJ to resolve allegations they overbilled Medicare for imaging agents used to diagnose cardiovascular disease.