Medicare will pay for a potentially revolutionary test that will allow doctors to determine if patients will benefit from a defibrillator. Supporters say the non- invasive test, which measures heartbeat fluctuations, could lead to major changes in the market for cardiac rhythm management devices. Some analysts think the test could dampen the defibrillator market by eliminating people who don't really need the devices. Companies like Guidant, Boston Scientific and Medtronic, which have projected that the defibrillator market will experience strong growth could feel the impact. The Cambridge Heart Test costs around $400.
- read this article [1] from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)
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[1] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114298575062404596.html?mod=health_home_stories