Kestra Medical Technologies Surpasses 200 Million Covered Lives for ASSURE Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) System
(Kirkland, Washington) – January 4, 2024 – Kestra Medical Technologies announced today that the ASSURE® Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system is now available to cover over 200+ million health plan members across the U.S. The company reached this covered-lives milestone less than eighteen months after commencing the national commercial launch phase of the ASSURE system in the U.S. The more than 200 million total covered lives include broad coverage for members of all national commercial insurers and many of the regional commercial insurers and networks, including Cigna, Premera, CareCentrix, Florida Blue, and multiple other Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans. These new contracts follow previously announced network participation agreements with UnitedHealthcare, additional Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans, and traditional Medicare and select state Medicaid programs.
“Since launching the ASSURE system, prescriber demand and patient preference have enabled us to rapidly contract with both national and regional payors” said Brian Webster, CEO of Kestra Medical Technologies. “Prescribers and payors are recognizing the advantages of a modern WCD option, particularly given our emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved female cardiac patients.”
The ASSURE WCD system represents the next generation of monitoring and therapy to protect patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The system includes a wearable device that provides autonomous detection and defibrillation for ventricular arrhythmias, when needed. It is the first WCD designed and developed with specific options for female cardiac patients. Since introduction, the ASSURE system has received ongoing technology updates, including the addition of an enhanced arrhythmia suite of features incorporating heart rate histograms, trending, and patient-triggered episode reporting. The complete Cardiac Recovery System® includes the ASSURE WCD, the ASSURE patient app, and Kestra CareStation® remote patient data platform, all working together to provide comfortable protection for patients and clear insights for their healthcare providers. The system also includes additional support for patients who experience a life-threatening heart rhythm while wearing the ASSURE WCD with the ASSURE Assist® service—designed to send an alert via the ASSURE patient app to an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operator after a defibrillation shock.
Since introduction, patients ranging in age from 21 to 97 years old, presenting with a variety of cardiac risk factors and diagnoses, have had lethal cardiac arrhythmias detected and lifesaving defibrillation delivered by an ASSURE WCD system. Thousands of patients have been prescribed—and protected by—an ASSURE WCD system since introduction.
About Kestra Medical Technologies
Kestra Medical Technologies, Inc. is a privately held wearable medical device and digital healthcare company that protects cardiac patients with diagnostic monitoring and therapeutic technologies that are intuitive, intelligent, and mobile. Kestra was founded in 2014 by leaders from the external (AED) and internal (ICD) defibrillation industries. Based in Kirkland, Washington, Kestra is a portfolio company of Bain Capital, one of the world’s leading alternative investment firms with deep global experience in healthcare. For more information, visit www.kestramedical.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements Kestra makes in this press release that relate to future plans, events, prospects, or performance are forward-looking statements and as such, are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed. While these current forward-looking statements represent the current beliefs of Management as of the date published, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Kestra undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances, or unanticipated events.
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Contact: Debra Schotz, Kestra Medical Technologies, (425) 384-3523, debra.schotz@kestramedical.com