SCAI, ACC Applaud Washington State's Decision to Uphold Patient Access to Drug-Eluting Stents
August 31, 2009
(August 31, 2009) – Seattle, Wash. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) applaud the decision by the Washington State Health Technology Assessment (HTA) panel to continue recommending coverage of drug-eluting stents (DES) for Washington state residents who are insured through state government or Medicaid. SCAI and ACC are pleased the Washington HTA recognized the concerns of cardiovascular professionals and support the panel's decision to take more time to consider the evidence presented by the cardiology community. Current data demonstrate the superiority of DES over bare metal stents for the majority of patients with coronary artery disease. SCAI and ACC look forward to working with the HTA by providing expert advice and scientific evidence to help ensure appropriate cardiovascular care is delivered to all residents of Washington state.
About SCAI
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional medical society whose mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. For more information about SCAI, visitwww.scai.org or www.seconds-count.org.
About ACC
The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is a 37,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the association is available online at www.acc.org.