Watchman FLX

There have been a number of questions and discussions here about the Watchman device and a lot of questions about when the new model, the FLX, will be available. Everything I'd been hearing pointed to late 2020 or early 2021, but I heard from an extremely reliable source today that the FLX will probably receive FDA approval in August. The initial release will probably be limited, meaning you'll only be offered it at selected centers, but if it's something you've been wondering about the answer is probably 2021.

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Carey
There have been a number of questions and discussions here about the Watchman device and a lot of questions about when the new model, the FLX, will be available. Everything I'd been hearing pointed to late 2020 or early 2021, but I heard from an extremely reliable source today that the FLX will probably receive FDA approval in August. The initial release will probably be limited, meaning you'll only be offered it at selected centers, but if it's something you've been wondering about the answer is probably 2021.

Thanks Carey. Any updates on expanded insurance criteria for approval?

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Daisy
Any updates on expanded insurance criteria for approval?

No, I've heard nothing about that, and I doubt Medicare and insurance companies will rush to cover it because of this. They've seen the evidence that LAA occlusion devices are cheaper than anticoagulants over the span of about 5 years, but they're slow to accept reality when it involves more money up front and less money in the long run. Profits and stock price, ya know.

Looks like the FLX was approved by the FDA today

FDA FLX approval