Positron Anticipates Cardiac PET Demand to Increase Due to Expanding Reimbursement

September 30, 2009 – Positron Corp. predicts a significant rise in demand for cardiac PET in 2010 with a proposed cut in SPECT reimbursement of 46 percent and an increase in PET reimbursement of 22 percent, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The nuclear medicine imaging community continues to face challenges with cardiac SPECT due to molybdenum shortages, cuts in reimbursement and an increase in operational costs. The proposed reduction in reimbursement by CMS for 2010, whose final decision is due out in early November, includes elimination and/or bundling of additional billing codes. The pressure on SPECT has caused physicians to revaluate their current technology offering and look to new sources of imaging income though PET, Positron said.

CMS, has proposed an increase in the 2010 PET reimbursement by 22 percent ($1,429), while maintaining Rb82 reimbursement at $250 per dose. Additionally, there are new PET myocardial perfusion agents in clinical phase III trials and more than three other cardiovascular PET specific radiopharmaceuticals in clinical phase I and II, which will drive demand for systems like Positron’s Attrius cardiac PET system.

Positron said Attrius is optimized for cardiac PET imaging and provides a more accurate diagnosis for patients, reduction of unnecessary downstream procedures and a very attractive economic profile for physicians. The company said it expects a significant demand in 2010 and look forward to providing physicians with the industry’s only cardiac optimized PET system.

Positron is a molecular imaging company focused on nuclear cardiology. Positron utilizes its proprietary product line to provide unique solutions to the nuclear medicine community ranging from imaging to radiopharmaceutical distribution. Positron products include: the Attrius, a PET imaging device; the Pulse, a SPECT imaging device; the Nuclear Pharm-Assist, an automated radiopharmaceutical distribution device; and the Tech-Assist, a radiopharmaceutical injection shield.

For more information: www.positron.com