ZAP-Lines for August 27, 2001

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Zap•Lines

August 27th 2001

ARRHYTHMIA/CARDIAC DEVICE RELATED HEADLINES

ARTIFICIAL HEART RECIPIENT GOES PUBLIC

UCLA TO IMPLANT MECHANICAL HEART

GENETIC LINK TO SCD FOUND

JAPAN GETS NEW GUIDANT ICD

LVAD CAN REVERSE HF

BIO-MECH GETTING HUGE $BOOST

CARDIAC PIONEERS HONORED

MEDICARE CUTS RISK ICD IMPLANTS

Details at http://www.ZapLife.org/zap2.htm

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Greetings everyone!

In case you missed the artificial heart recipient news coverage... we provide access to several of those reports on the ZAP•NEWS page, including a video package from CNN.

Another item of interest turned up in several newspapers this past week: MEDICARE CUTS MAY INCLUDE REDUCTION OF PAYMENTS FOR ICD IMPLANTS. It was briefly buried in another report by the Washington Post a few weeks ago. This time, the story comes from the LA Times news service.

If this is approved, you can be certain insurance companies will try to do the same.

All in favor? [sILENCE]

All opposed? [LOUD SHOUTING]

If this matter is of importance to you (and it should)... speak out! Start with your members of Congress and the Senate. When I contacted my representatives, it took a great deal of restraint to NOT blast them for considering such cuts while giving themselves more raises, more benefits, and more bountiful retirement packages.

We are a bit ahead of schedule for the reconstruction of the Zap•Store. Hopefully (except for tweaking) it will be finished by midweek. Check it out when you get a chance at www.ZapLife.org/store. If the prices are competitive to what you pay locally, please consider shopping there for your books, music, health gadgets, and OTC products. It will help keep our ever expanding services available to all for free.

Starting the week after, the oft delayed work on the Zapper Gallery will finally resume! Now is the time to send us a (JPG) picture and bio (via www.ZapLife.org/galleryform.htm) if you want to appear in our "page of fame."

The pharamcist I see a couple times every month, Laux, took part in a Zap•Chat this week. She fielded several interesting questions. We hope to have more guests with specific areas of expertise in the future. Please join us when you can.

That's all for now. Stay well!

Jon Duffey

Publisher