DANVERS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abiomed Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) announced today it has received a positive National Coverage Determination (NCD) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that allows coverage of the AbioCor® Total Replacement Heart. The decision is the first positive coverage position CMS has taken since a non-coverage determination was issued for artificial hearts in 1986. In addition to covering the AbioCor, CMS previously recommended re-aligning the payment under msDRG 1 or 2 in a draft policy document. MSDRG 1 is the highest paying diagnostic related group (DRG) in Medicare, and the final decision is expected in August 2008.
