RITA Medical Systems Names Lynn A. Saccoliti Vice President, Reimbursement
Stewart commented, "As we continue to penetrate the liver and metastatic bone cancer markets worldwide and apply our technology to new markets, it is increasingly important for us to step up our efforts in gaining national, regional and state coverage, appropriate payment levels and coding. Lynn's extensive expertise in global reimbursement and experience in developing product-specific reimbursement strategies for a wide range of health care technologies will be instrumental in helping us achieve these goals."
Saccoliti came to RITA with more than 19 years experience in the health care industry and most recently from Minneapolis-based Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) where she was Senior Director, Strategic Reimbursement. In this position, which she assumed in May 2002 when Medtronic acquired Fremont, CA-based VidaMed, Inc., Saccoliti focused on strategic initiatives for Medtronic urological therapies. Prior to the Medtronic acquisition, she was with VidaMed since October 1997 and was Senior Director of Government Relations and Reimbursement. Her duties included representing VidaMed at Congressional meetings, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) meetings and associated industry forums, and under her leadership VidaMed secured Medicare coverage in 50 states. Saccoliti was responsible for obtaining a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Technology Assessment Endorsement and she conducted successful reimbursement/ payment negotiations with a number of institutions and organizations and secured multiple private insurance National Coverage Policies.
Saccoliti graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in Organizational Communication/Journalism.
About RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
RITA Medical Systems develops, manufactures and markets innovative products for patients with solid cancerous or benign tumors. The proprietary RITA system uses radiofrequency energy to heat tissue to a high enough temperature to ablate it or cause cell death. While the Company's current focus is on liver cancer and metastatic bone cancer, the Company believes that its minimally invasive technology may in the future be applied to other types of tumors, including tumors of the lung, breast, uterus, prostate and kidney. The Company has received regulatory clearance in major markets worldwide, including the United States. In March 2000, RITA became the first radiofrequency ablation company to receive specific FDA clearance for unresectable liver lesions in addition to its previous general FDA clearance for the ablation of soft tissue. In October 2002, RITA again became the first company to receive specific FDA clearance, this time, for the palliation of pain associated with metastatic lesions involving bone. The Company has sold over 45,000 of its disposable devices throughout the world.
The statements in this news release related to the Company's plans to extend its technology to applications beyond the liver are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Information regarding these risks is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
RITA and StarBurst are trademarks of RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
For further information please contact: Matt Clawson (investors),
matt@allencaron.com, or Len Hall (media), len@allencaron.com, both of Allen &
Caron Inc, +1-949-474-4300, for RITA Medical Systems, Inc.; or Don Stewart,
Chief Financial Officer of RITA Medical Systems, Inc., +1-650-314-3400,
dstewart@ritamed.com
SOURCE RITA Medical Systems, Inc.