The VA is buying a specific heart valve replacement device for its hospitals

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a contract to Edwards Lifesciences for its transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices. This means VA hospitals will continue to use this specific type of minimally invasive heart valve replacement.

This contract shows the VA's continued commitment to a specific, less invasive heart valve replacement technology. TAVR procedures allow doctors to replace a damaged aortic valve without open-heart surgery, which typically means faster recovery times for patients. The VA's consistent procurement of these devices indicates they are becoming a standard of care for eligible veterans.