Chest Pain

Medicare to Expand Heart Pump Coverage

Age, Weight Predict Fatal Heartbeat After Surgery

Cholesterol Drugs May Cut Death Risk

Prescription Drug Assistance

New Guidelines Emphasize Need for Speed with Chest Pain Strikes

If your chest pain worsens and lasts more than five minutes, especially if you're short of breath, feel weak, nauseated or lightheaded, call 911 -- you could be having a heart attack.  That's one of several recommendation of the new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines for treating heart attacks.  The new guidelines detail the best way for physicians to manage patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a severe heart attack in which an artery is completed blocked.  They are published at www.americanheart.org and www.acc.org.  The guidelines also appear in the June 15 rapid access issue of Circulation:  Journal of the American Heart Association, and the July 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.  (7/04)

Medicare to Expand Heart Pump Coverage

Proposed Medicare rules would add 30% to coverager for Thoratec Corp.'s heart-assist device.  Thoratec said the proposed rules would reimburse the company's heart pumps at about $125,000 per procedure, compared with about $96,000 currently, when used as a permanent treatment.  The changes affect any ventricular assist device used to prolong life in heart failure patients too sick to receive a heart transplant.  The changes would not affect coverage of the devices when used as a temporary treatment until a patient can receive a heart transplant.  The proposed ruling is subject to a 60-day public comment period.  The final rule is due August 1, and would take effect October 1.

Age, Weight Predict Fatal Heartbeat After Surgery

People over 65 years of age and those who are overweight are at increased risk for potentially fatal heartbeats after bypass surgery, according to a report in the May 5, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.  (7/04)

Cholesterol Drugs May Cut Death Risk After Surgery

A recent study shows that treatment with cholesterol-lowering agents, particularly "statin" drugs like Lipitor or Zocor, may reduce the risk of death after major surgery.  In a study reported in the May 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients who used such agents on at least the first or second hospital day were 38% less likely to die while hospitalized than patients who didn't take the drugs.  The results are based on a study of more than 780,000 patients who underwent major surgery in the U.S. during 2000 and 2001.  Questions yet to me answered are what is the timing and duration of therapy needed to produce a benefit.  (7/04)

Web Site Matches Patients with Prescription Drug Assistance

A new web-based service may help millions of Americans without prescription drug coverage find the drugs they need at the best price.  Located at www.helpingpatients.org, the web site directs users to patient assistance programs that can best fit their needs.  The online service, billed as a "one-stop-shop," allows users faster access to more than 400 medications through 40 patient assistance programs offered by drug companies, according to Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which hosts the site along with 48 of its member companies.  The service is free and confidential.  For more information, visit www.helpingpatients.org.  (7/04)