Largest Private Insurer in Texas, Illinois, and
OklahomaBEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2006--Cambridge Heart, Inc.
(OTCBB:CAMH) today announced that Healthcare Service Corporation ("HCSC") has
revised its Coverage Policy Bulletin (MED202.006) on Microvolt T Wave Alternans agreeing
to make it a covered benefit. HCSC provides healthcare benefits to 11.6 million
beneficiaries through its BlueCross BlueShield divisions in Texas, Illinois, New Mexico
and Oklahoma. The new policy states:
"Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) as a technique of risk stratification for
primary or secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) may be
considered medically necessary in patients who are at risk of developing life-threatening
ventricular arrhythmias."
About Cambridge Heart
Cambridge Heart (www.cambridgeheart.com) is engaged in the development and
commercialization of products for the non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac disease,
particularly the identification of those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The Company's
products incorporate its proprietary Microvolt T-Wave Alternans measurement technologies,
coupled with its patented Spectral Analytic Method and ultra-sensitive disposable
electrodes. Only Spectral Analytic Method MTWA tests are reimbursed by Medicare under its
National Coverage Policy that covers patients with a wide variety of cardiac symptoms.
Other major insurers in the USA also have coverage policies for the test. The T-Wave
Alternans test is included in the Guideline for Management of Patients with Ventricular
Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death jointly developed by the American
College of Cardiology (ACC), The American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society
of Cardiology (ESC). The Company, founded in 1990, is based in Bedford, Massachusetts and
is traded on the OTCBB under the symbol CAMH.
About the Cambridge Heart Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Test
The Cambridge Heart Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Test measures extremely subtle
beat-to-beat fluctuations in a person's heartbeat called T-wave alternans. These tiny
heartbeat variations - measured at one millionth of a volt - are detected in any clinical
setting where titration of the heart rate is possible. The preparation for the test
consists of placing proprietary sensors on a patient's chest. Extensive clinical research
has shown that patients with symptoms of, or who are at risk of, life threatening
arrhythmias that test positive for T-wave alternans are at significant risk for subsequent
sudden cardiac events including sudden death, while those who test negative are at minimal
risk.
Statements contained in this press release about anticipated revenue growth, and all
other statements that are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements for
purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. In some cases, we use words such as "believes", "expects",
"anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "could" and
similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these
forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by
these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to such differences
include customer delays in making final buying decisions, decreased demand for our
products, failure to obtain funding necessary to develop or enhance our technology,
adverse results in future clinical studies of our technology, failure to obtain or
maintain patent protection for our technology, failure to obtain or maintain adequate
levels of third-party reimbursement for use of our products and other factors identified
in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Factors Which May Affect Future
Results", which is on file with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements
represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our
estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking
statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so,
even if our estimates change.
CONTACT:
At Cambridge Heart, Inc.
Roderick de Greef, 781-271-1200 x231
Chief Financial Officer
roderickd@cambridgeheart.com
or
At Consulting for Strategic Growth
Stanley Wunderlich, 800-625-2236
info@csfg1.com
SOURCE:
Cambridge Heart, Inc.