Abiomed Receives Reimbursement Approval for Impella in The Netherlands


DANVERS, Mass., May 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abiomed, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABMD), a leading provider of breakthrough heart support technologies, today announced that the Netherlands has approved new reimbursement coding and payment for the Impella product. The new coding allows for hospitals to receive funding for the use of the Impella technology in a broad set of clinical indications of heart disease through the process known as Diagnosis Treatment Combinations (Diagnose Behandeling Combinaties; DBCs), similar to the Medicare Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system in the United States.

New reimbursement is a significant milestone for the recognition of Impella as a required therapy for treatment of heart disease in the European hospital setting.  The Netherlands has also been a leader in early clinical and cost effectiveness research of the Impella technology under the leadership of Dr. Jose Henriques at the Amsterdam Medical Center.

"We are encouraged that the Netherlands now provides reimbursement for Impella," said Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abiomed.  "The World Health Organization ranks the Netherlands as one of the top healthcare systems globally, based upon measurements of the overall level and distribution of health, responsiveness, and financial contribution to healthcare services." 

ABOUT ABIOMED

Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, Abiomed, Inc., is a leading provider of medical devices that provide circulatory support. Our products are designed to enable the heart to rest by improving blood flow and/or performing the pumping of the heart. For additional information please visit: http://www.abiomed.com/">www.abiomed.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding development of Abiomed's existing and new products, the Company's progress toward commercial growth, and future opportunities and expected regulatory approvals. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties associated with development, testing and related regulatory approvals, including the potential for future losses, complex manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited sources of supply, competition, technological change, government regulation, litigation matters, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, and other risks and challenges detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.



            

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