The North American Spine Society unveiled the NASS Coverage Policy Recommendations eBook.
"Spine specialists spend a great deal of time — time they could spend caring for their patients — doing labor-intensive research, filling out onerous paperwork and participating in peer-to-peer reviews to justify even common treatments to payers," said Christopher M. Bono, MD, NASS first vice president and first Coverage Committee Chair. "This essential eBook of evidence-based recommendations will help them navigate this system and get their patients the care they need to quickly get back to enjoying active, productive lives."
Here are five key notes on the eBook:
1. There are 17 coverage recommendations with extensive citations and active links to published research. The eBook also includes videos.
2. NASS plans to add recommendations and revise the existing recommendations based on new literature and member feedback. Subscribers automatically have access to the most recent online edition.
3. The NASS Coverage Committee conducts extensive literature review to develop the coverage recommendations and uses an evidence-based approach when possible. The recommendations are designed to reflect a multidisciplinary approach and expertise.
4. Coverage recommendations span cervical artificial disc replacement, spinal fusion, endoscopic discectomy, interspinous procedures, laser spine surgery, sacroiliac joint fusion and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein use.
5. The future topics could include acupuncture, radiofrequency neurotomy, laminectomy, DNA-based scoliosis test, electrical stimulation, discography, facet joint blocks and percutaneous lumbar fusion.