SonoSite Reiterates Support for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening; New Federal Law on Medicare Reimbursement for AAA Scr
February 15 2006 - 7:00PM
Business Wire
SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), commented today on the new federal
law on Medicare reimbursement for a screening test to detect
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) as part of the "Welcome To
Medicare Physical Exam." The recent passage of the Screening for
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act, which
will become effective in 2007, is considered a momentous
development within the cardiovascular community. SonoSite, the
market leader in hand-carried ultrasound systems, has actively
supported passage of this legislation. "The SAAAVE Act means that
thousands of American lives will be saved from this potentially
fatal disease," said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite President and CEO.
"The SAAAVE Act is among a growing number of examples of the value
that hand-carried ultrasound can play in screening for the early
detection and management of cardiovascular disease. SonoSite is
proud to partner with leading medical societies as part of the
National Aneurysm Alliance to help improve the cardiovascular
health of Americans." According to figures from the National
Aneurysm Alliance, AAAs kill between 15,000-30,000 people annually,
making it the 16th leading cause of death in the United States.
According to the medical literature, AAA tends to strike victims
over 55 years old. Other important risk factors for AAA include
smoking or a history of smoking, high blood pressure, heart
disease, and a family history of AAA. In addition, AAAs affect men
more frequently than women, although women with a family history of
AAA are four times more likely to develop AAA compared to women
without such family history. "The use of ultrasound to screen for
AAAs makes both clinical and economic sense," said Dr. William
Flinn, a vascular surgeon at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine, and current vice-chair of the American Vascular
Association. "Even today, when an AAA ruptures, it is fatal in over
half the cases. Unfortunately, 80% of people who suffer AAA rupture
never knew they had an aneurysm. Even those who survive AAA rupture
often need extended care and suffer permanent disabilities. So,
screening not only saves lives, but can result in significant
financial savings as well. Elective treatments, for AAA are safe
and effective, and early detection by screening will allow us to
avoid many catastrophic outcomes. Countless deaths from AAA will be
prevented by this screening program." SonoSite's hand-carried
ultrasound (HCU) systems were used in numerous AAA screening
demonstration events in support of the passage of the SAAAVE Act.
"We have screened thousands of Americans using SonoSite's
products," said Sheila Arrington, founder of Aneurysm Outreach, a
non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of
AAAs. "Our physicians and sonographers were always impressed by the
quality and durability of SonoSite's systems. HCU systems are the
logical choice for use in large scale screening programs as they
can easily be taken to the site of the screening whether it is in
the physician's office or at a community health fair, even in
remote areas of the US." About SonoSite SonoSite, Inc.
(www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in
hand-carried ultrasound, with an installed base of more than 25,000
systems. The company, headquartered near Seattle, Washington, is
represented by eight subsidiaries and a global distribution network
in over 75 countries. SonoSite's small, lightweight systems are
expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by
cost-effectively bringing high performance ultrasound to the point
of patient care. The company employs approximately 500 people
worldwide.
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