NATICK, Mass., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today welcomed passage of legislation to help active members of the U.S. armed forces and service veterans better manage the challenges of chronic pain.

The Military Pain Care Act of 2008 was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. The legislation, introduced by Representative Dave Loebsack of Iowa, requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement a pain care initiative in all military health care facilities. The intent is to help the military improve the health of active duty service members by developing a "best practices" approach to pain care management and evaluating the effectiveness of existing DOD pain care programs. Pain care management - for both acute and chronic pain - is a critical component of providing comprehensive health care for those who serve our country.

Congress also passed - and the President signed - the Veterans Pain Care Act, which establishes a comprehensive and integrated pain care initiative across the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system. This new law, introduced by Representative Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, will add resources to increase research, training and education on acute and chronic pain for VA personnel and their patients.

"Improving pain management is a crucial part of improving health care for our active military and our veterans," said Scott M. Fishman, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology and Chief, Division of Pain Medicine at the University of California, Davis. "Pain is a complex medical condition that can affect the physical and mental well being of millions of patients. We owe it to our returning military personnel to address their pain and suffering just as we should for all patients with chronic pain."

"The passage of these two laws will advance public awareness and understanding of chronic pain management," said Michael Onuscheck, President of Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation business. "The accredited pain physicians with whom we work have witnessed the devastating impact chronic pain can have on our active and veteran military service personnel. The expansion and improvement of the quality of care for these brave men and women in their battle against chronic pain is an important step forward."

An additional pain care bill, the National Pain Care Policy Act, has been passed by the House of Representatives but not the Senate. This bill, introduced by Representative Lois Capps of California and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, would help evaluate how acute and chronic pain are diagnosed, treated and managed in the U.S., and help improve education, research and awareness of chronic pain to physicians and pain sufferers throughout the country.

"Boston Scientific will continue our work on this broad pain care legislation," added Onuscheck. "We take our leadership responsibilities in this industry seriously and believe that improving care for pain patients benefits all of us. We will continue to educate our elected officials about the importance of the National Pain Care Policy Act and push for final passage by the Senate."

Chronic pain presents a major challenge to the U.S. healthcare system. With an estimated 75 million Americans affected by chronic pain, the cost to the public in terms of health care, lost productivity and litigation is estimated at $100 billion every year. The effects of chronic pain can contribute to job loss, depression, fear, anxiety, isolation, sleep disorders and marital and family dysfunction.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: http://www.bostonscientific.com/.

About Boston Scientific Neuromodulation

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation is an innovation leader in implantable pain management technology. The use of pulses of electricity delivered directly to the nerves, known as Spinal Cord Stimulation, has been in use for more than 30 years without the unwanted side effects and long-term costs associated with pain medications. Spinal Cord Stimulation is a reversible therapy that has helped thousand of people find relief from chronic pain.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our product performance, regulatory approval of our products, our growth strategy, and our market position. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: legislative activity, future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and, future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file thereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

  CONTACT:  Paul Donovan
            508-650-8541 (office)
            508-667-5165 (mobile)
            Media Relations
            Boston Scientific Corporation

            Larry Neumann
            508-650-8696 (office)
            Investor Relations
            Boston Scientific Corporation

SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation

CONTACT: Media Relations, Paul Donovan, office, +1-508-650-8541 or
mobile, +1-508-667-5165, or Investor Relations, Larry Neumann, office,
+1-508-650-8696, both of Boston Scientific Corporation

Web Site: http://www.bostonscientific.com/