ROSEMONT, Ill., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — LifeWatch AG (SIX
Swiss Exchange: LIFE) today announces an initiative with
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, an affiliate of United-Health
Group (NYSE: UNH) that will provide members insured by
UnitedHealthcare in-network access to LifeWatch cardiac monitoring
services and technologies. LifeWatch is proud to continue our
preferred national relationship that began December 1, 2006. The
purpose of this initiative is to substantially reduce patient
co-pays and deductibles associated with the use of out-of-network
cardiac monitoring services provided by other monitoring
services.
LifeWatch is the leading independent provider of remote cardiac
arrhythmia monitoring devices, home sleep studies and services in
the USA, which assist physicians and patients in the early
detection and treatment of arrhythmia Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(OSA), and can thus prevent heart diseases, stroke, or sudden
cardiac death. Millions of people experience arrhythmia and sleep
apnea. Typical arrhythmia symptoms include palpitations, rapid
heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain and shortness of breath. OSA
patients are at risk for a multitude of comorbidities including
atrial fibrillation. LifeWatch’s services enable a physician who is
treating a patient with arrhythmia to prescribe his patient with a
range of cardiac monitoring devices that records irregularities in
the heart’s electrical activity up to a 30-day period. The recorded
data is transmitted to the LifeWatch call center, which processes
the information and sends a detailed report to the referring
physician for interpretation and treatment decisions. Making the
LifeWatch services in-network simplifies the process by which a
doctor can prescribe them to patients who are insured by
UnitedHealthcare.
“LifeWatch is privileged to continue our existing relationship
with UnitedHealthcare,” said Yacov Geva, LifeWatch president and
CEO. “Our agreement strengthens the position of our Cli
‘/>”/>