Wright Medical Group, Inc. Receives Physician Office Reimbursement Cod

Wright Medical Group, Inc. Receives Physician Office Reimbursement Code for GRAFTJACKET Ulcer Repair Matrix

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    ARLINGTON, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--

Wright's Ground-Breaking Solution for Diabetes-Related Ulcers and Other Lower Extremity Wounds Now Reimbursable by Medicare in All Standard Treatment Settings
    Wright Medical Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WMGI), a global orthopaedic medical device company, today announced that a reimbursement "J" code has been assigned for the Company's GRAFTJACKET(R) Ulcer Repair Matrix, a cutting-edge treatment for chronic wounds often associated with diabetes. Under the new code, Medicare will provide reimbursement for the use of the GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix to treat diabetic foot ulcers and other lower extremity wounds in the physician office setting. This new reimbursement status complements the "C" code granted in November 2004 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), now making Wright's GRAFTJACKET(R) Ulcer Repair Matrix reimbursable by Medicare in hospital outpatient departments, wound care centers and physicians' offices.
    The "J" code established for GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix, J7344, is defined under the Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), which is administered by CMS. Combined with the "C" code issued earlier by CMS, the "J" code makes the ground-breaking GRAFTJACKET(R) technology more accessible for the approximately 480,000 diabetic foot wound sufferers who rely on healthcare coverage through the Medicare system.
    Medicaid and private insurers usually adopt Medicare codes and may also reimburse for treatment with the GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix in the physician office under the J7344 code. Wright is working with payers at the local level to ensure smooth claims processing.
    The GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix provides surgeons with a superior treatment option by accelerating tissue regeneration at deep levels of the wound, while protecting the wound surface with a scaffold that actually converts into functional host tissue. While traditional wound treatment protocols require multiple surgeries to achieve full repair, the GRAFTJACKET(R) treatment results in full repair in just one surgery in the majority of cases. Data from a pilot clinical trial shows that complete wound healing occurred at 12 weeks in 85% of the patients treated with the GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix, compared to only 5% of the patients in the conventional treatment group. Ultimately, the GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix offers physicians and their patients a faster, more predictable, and less costly wound repair option.
    "The new office setting code for GRAFTJACKET(R) Matrix is excellent news for diabetic patients who are plagued by lower extremity wounds historically associated with high amputation rates," expressed Cary Hagan, Wright's Senior Director of Biologics. "With Medicare reimbursement now available in all standard settings of care, the stage is set to significantly enhance the quality of treatment for patients who suffer from these chronic and often dangerous wounds."

    About Wright

    Wright Medical Group, Inc. is a global orthopaedic medical device company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive joint devices and biologic materials. The Company has been in business for more than 50 years and markets its products in over 40 countries worldwide. For more information about Wright, visit our website at www.wmt.com.
    This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, beliefs, estimates, and expectations and express management's current views of future performance, results, and trends. The Company wishes to caution readers that actual results might differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and in subsequent Quarterly Reports filed on Form 10-Q), which could cause the Company's actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements are accurate, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate. A forward-looking statement should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the results described therein will be achieved. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement after this date.

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CONTACT: Wright Medical Group, Inc., Arlington Media & Investor Contact: John K. Bakewell, 901-867-4527 or Reimbursement Code Contacts: Sajini Thomas, 901-867-4574 or Jonette Hodge, 901-867-4593

KEYWORD: TENNESSEE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL DEVICES PRODUCT SOURCE: Wright Medical Group, Inc.

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