Commercial payers continue to expand coverage for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion after CMS increased reimbursement for the procedure last year. More device companies are also focusing innovation efforts in the SI joint space.
Five key SI joint developments for surgeons to know:
1. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery updated its policy and clinical guidelines on MIS SI joint fusion.
2. Omnia Medical is launching a pain management division focusing on SI joint dysfunction.
3. In January, Sacrix launched the third iteration of SacroFuse, a threaded compression device designed for immediate stabilization of the SI joint.
4. The Trident SI joint screw system, developed by surgeons from Burnsville, Minn.-based Inspired Spine, received FDA clearance in January.
5. Last year, several insurers expanded coverage policies to include MIS SI joint fusion:
- Humana now covers MIS SI joint fusion for chronic low back pain due to SI joint dysfunction, provided certain criteria are met.
- Medica, a Minneapolis-based insurer, revised its coverage policy to include MIS SI joint fusion with SI-Bone's iFuse Implant.
- A new Aetna policy began covering minimally invasive arthrodesis of the SI joint.