September CPT Editorial Panel

ISASS representatives will be attending the September CPT Editorial Panel meeting (19^th-21^st) in Albuquerque, NM to support an add-on code for the placement of an annular closure device (Barricaid), when clinically appropriate, post-discectomy.

The September meeting will also include continued discussion about the SI joint CPT codes, seeking to clarify the definition of those codes. In 2022, ISASS proactively requested a Category III CPT code for the dorsal approach to differentiate it from 27279. CPT Code 27278, with the support of AAOS and AANS/CNS, was approved, and later converted to a Category I CPT code in January of 2024.  Since that time, there has been ongoing confusion about the intent and application of each of the SI joint fusion codes, 27279 and 27278. This meeting will include discussion around three code change applications that seek to more adequately define each code.

For those interested in providing comment to ISASS about either issue, please reach out to the ISASS Policy & Advocacy Committee through our consultant, Kim Norton:  knorton@isass.org.  For those wishing to register to observe the CPT Editorial Panel meeting virtually, please register here.