Scoliosis Research Society recently sent a letter in response to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota's medical policy IV-85 for the use of bone morphogenic protein.
The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery will co-sign the letter. BCBS of Minnesota's policy restricts patient access to BMP for spinal fusions, which concerns the ISASS and SRS for two reasons:
• They believe it is unreasonable to hold physicians to a standard of transparency and academic rigor when BCBS of Minnesota makes payment decisions based upon a nontransparent and ill-defined process.
• They believe the segment of the policy which indicates that the use of BMP would result in loss of coverage for deformity patients in cases where BMP is a necessary component of care. They believe this loss is unjustified and inappropriate.
The policy went into effect Nov. 23, 2011.
To read more about the policy, click here (pdf).
More Articles on ISASS:
ISASS Urges Members to Support Reimbursement for Spinal Fusions
Dr. Morgan Lorio to Chair ISASS Coding & Reimbursement Task Force
ISASS Names Business Dynamics CEO Barbara Cataletto to Coding Task Force
• They believe it is unreasonable to hold physicians to a standard of transparency and academic rigor when BCBS of Minnesota makes payment decisions based upon a nontransparent and ill-defined process.
• They believe the segment of the policy which indicates that the use of BMP would result in loss of coverage for deformity patients in cases where BMP is a necessary component of care. They believe this loss is unjustified and inappropriate.
The policy went into effect Nov. 23, 2011.
To read more about the policy, click here (pdf).
More Articles on ISASS:
ISASS Urges Members to Support Reimbursement for Spinal Fusions
Dr. Morgan Lorio to Chair ISASS Coding & Reimbursement Task Force
ISASS Names Business Dynamics CEO Barbara Cataletto to Coding Task Force