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2012 – 2013 ISASS BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident Steven Garfin, MD, USA Incoming President Luiz Pimenta, MD, Brazil Treasurer Gunnar B. J. Andersson, MD, PhD, USA Michael Ogon, MD, Austria Hee Kit Wong, MD, PhD, Singapore Jeffrey Goldstein, MD, USA Immediate Past President Jean-Charles LeHuec, MD, France ISASS Past Presidents Thomas Errico, MD, USA Chun-Kun Park, MD, PhD, South Korea Karin Büttner-Janz, MD, PhD, Germany Hansen A. Yuan, MD, USA Stephen Hochschuler, MD, USA Founding Member Thierry Marnay, MD, France Founding Member Rudolf Bertagnoli, MD, Germany Founding Member (the late) Charles Ray, MD, USA Founding Member 2013 Program Chairs Overall Program Chair Chris Bono, MD, USA Basic Science Chair Donna Ohnmeiss, DrMed, USA Clinical Science Chair Rick Sasso, MD, USA MIS […]

HCSC/BCBSIL’s draft policy is moderately onerous in the sense that most indications for a spinal fusion are still covered. The areas where lumbar spinal fusions procedures “are not considered medically necessary” include patients where the sole indication is a disc herniation or neuro structure compression (initial discectomy/laminectomy) “as well as” degenerative disc disease and facet syndrome. This is the area where the primary controversy exists. While many patients with degenerative disc disease or facet syndrome will not have that diagnosis as their sole indication, there are patients with chronic low back pain who have not responded to appropriate non-operative treatment and who will benefit from a surgical procedure. Those patients may now lose the opportunity of a clinically meaningful improvement. […]

Earlier this week, HCSC, the parent corporation for Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, issued a new draft policy for Lumbar Spinal Fusions. Concerns have been raised that this new policy rules out access to lumbar fusion for patients where the sole indication is a disc herniation or neurostructure compression (initial discectomy/laminectomy), and patients with a sole indication of degenerative disc disease or facet syndrome. To review this draft policy, please Click Here ISASS is currently conducting a review of this proposed policy, and expects to issue comments to HCSC prior to the May 31st comment deadline, accompanied by our evidence-based Policy Statement on Lumbar Fusion Surgeries. However, it is very important that HCSC hear from surgeons […]