NEW PRODUCTS Boston Scientific Corp., Natick, Mass., has received CE Mark approval for its Taxus Element paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system, its third-generation drug-coated stent technology. The approval includes a specific indication for treatment of diabetic patients. The company plans to launch the Taxus Element stent system next month in the European Union and other CE Mark countries.
St. Jude Medical Inc., Little Canada, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and the first U.S. implants of its Unify cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator and Fortify implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The new devices feature advanced battery technology and circuitry that allow for the smallest device footprint in the industry and rapid charge times, without any compromise in device longevity or power.
NEW BUSINESS Alabama's Medicaid agency has awarded a two-year, performance-based contract to Eden Prairie-based Ingenix to review claims and identify any funds owed to the state. The agency will work with Ingenix on a focused post-payment review of claims filed for the past two years by Alabama-based hospitals, physicians, dentists, pharmacies, durable medical equipment companies and home health care providers. Instead of a flat contract fee, Ingenix will get a percentage of any incorrect payments identified and recovered. It will help the agency identify fraud, waste, abuse and overpayments.
