Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) Proposed Research Title for the Topic: Spinal Fusion for Painful Lumbar Degenerative Disc or Joint Disease Comments submitted on behalf of International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) Jean Charles LeHuec, MD, PhD – President 2323 Cheshire Drive, Suite 101 Aurora, IL 60502 630-995-9994 www.isass.org Introductory...

The New Jersey State Spine Society (NJSSS) is composed of spine surgeons with the mission of protecting patient access to high quality spine care in New Jersey. Major issues have arisen from proposals by Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey and Cigna that will dramatically reduce reimbursement rates for spine procedures. Dr....

Dear ISASS Members: It has been brought to my attention that YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED regarding a time sensitive notice issued by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Summarized, AHRQ has requested comments on spinal fusion for painful lumbar degenerative disc or joint diseases. It is our timely duty, and it is...

January 26, 2010 On January 20th, SAS President Tom Errico and leaders from eight other professional spine societies met with the medical leadership of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS-NC) to discuss the spine community’s concerns with a newly published BCBS-NC policy on lumbar fusions. The posting of the policy by BCBS-NC...