BG Medicine Says Prelim. Decision by CMS on Galectin-3 National limitation $30.24

BG Medicine, Inc.(Nasdaq: BGMD) announced today that the Centers for Medicare and MedicaidServices (CMS) have made a preliminary decision to set the Medicare paymentrate for the Company's BGM Galectin-3^® test at the amount of a cross walkedtest whose 2013 national limitation amount is $30.24, subject to a finaldetermination by CMS by year-end 2013. The new payment rate, if finalized,will replace the BGM Galectin-3^® test's national limitation amount of $17.80that was effective in 2013."We are very pleased that CMS agreed to reconsider the payment rate for ourBGM Galectin-3 test," said Dr. Paul R. Sohmer, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of BG Medicine. "We believe that the revised payment rate moreappropriately reflects the value of this important diagnostic test."This preliminary determination by CMS comes in response to BG Medicine'srequest for reconsideration of the 2013 CMS determination. The BGM Galectin-3test is a novel test, which is cleared by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration as an aid in assessing the prognosis of patients with chronicheart failure."We believe that the BGM Galectin-3 test provides a critical tool forphysicians and other healthcare providers who make decisions regarding thecare of patients with chronic heart failure," Dr. Sohmer added. "Theidentification of chronic heart failure patients, who are at greater risk ofnear term adverse events, should enable hospitals and physicians to betterdirect their patient management strategies and resources to those who needthem most."The BGM Galectin-3 test has been studied in over 10,000 patients, acrossdozens of distinct clinical studies. Earlier in 2013, BG Medicine announcedinclusion of Galectin-3 as biomarker of Myocardial Fibrosis in the 2013ACCF/AHA Guideline for Management of Heart Failure.The 2014 payment rate is subject to overall adjustments to the ClinicalLaboratory Fee Schedule for 2014, including Consumer Price Index (CPI) andproductivity adjustments, and a 1.75% reduction mandated under the AffordableCare Act. In addition, the payment is expected to be subject to a 2%sequestration applicable to Medicare services.