Medtronic AAA advocacy
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Firm unveils "Find the AAAnswers" campaign, designed to draw attention to prevention and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, at a New York City press conference Sept. 22. Medtronic's AneurRx AAAdvantage and Talent stent grafts are used in endovascular repair of AAA. The campaign, sponsored by Medtronic and supported by the Society for Vascular Surgeons, the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound, will include education and screening events, an interactive web portal (FindtheAAAnswers.org) and public service announcements. A one-time Medicare AAA ultrasound screening benefit for at-risk beneficiaries took effect in 2007, but screening rates have not climbed as much as hoped. At-risk patients are defined by Medicare as male smokers or men and women with a family history of the condition. AAA advocates are pushing to expand coverage beyond the one-time screen, which must occur within 12 months of enrollment, as part of health reform legislation (1"The Gray Sheet" Aug. 10, 2009)