ISASS’ Coding and Reimbursement Task Force is undertaking drafts of policy statements on two new spine technologies, the Intracept procedure for Basivertebral nerve treatment, and the Barricaid implant for annular closure. These technologies are among the newest and most promising treatments for vertebral conditions and likely to increase in dissemination and use by practitioners.  The...

ISASS has published a new policy statement on Bone Grafting procedures and an updated policy on Vertebral Augmentation. These policies are based on review by clinical experts and reviewed and published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery, the official ISASS journal, in February 2019. Links to the policy statements can be found on the...

Vertebral Augmentation: Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity OLIVIER CLERK-LAMALICE,1 DOUGLAS P. BEALL,2 KEVIN ONG,3 MORGAN P. LORIO4 1Western Canada Pain Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma,3Exponent, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 4Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics—Centennial, Nashville, Tennessee ABSTRACT The ISASS Policy...

ISASS Recommendations and Coverage Criteria for Bone Graft Substitutes used in Spinal Surgery CELESTE ABJORNSON, PHD,1 ANTONIO BRECEVICH, MD,1 TUCKER CALLANAN, MS,1 CHRISTINA DOWE, BS,1 FRANK P. CAMMISA, JR, MD,1 MORGAN P. LORIO, MD, FACS2 1Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, 2Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics, Nashville, Tennessee   INTRODUCTION Over the past 3 decades,...