BURR RIDGE, Ill. – The North American Spine Society (NASS) has joined several other leading medical and spine organizations in signing a multi-society position statement calling for an immediate end to insurance denials of vital medical implants used in common neck surgeries.
Billed under CPT code 22853, these implants have long been considered a standard component of cervical fusion surgeries and are frequently recognized as medically necessary to maintain stability, rebuild spinal alignment, and promote fusion after neural decompression.
“For many years, the use of interbody biomechanical devices such as PEEK or titanium cages have been part of the standard armamentarium surgeons employ when performing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries to help our patients regain their quality of life,” said William Mitchell, NASS President. “We must do everything we can to ensure these commonly used devices are covered by insurance without restrictions and remain a tool that surgeons can employ to help patients.”
NASS joins the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in calling for an immediate end of insurance denials to CPT code 22853. The organizations’ concerns include reported denials involving CPT code 22853 within certain Medicare Advantage Plans, including Aetna policies affecting cervical fusion procedures. In addition to signing the position statement, the participating societies are continuing collaborative advocacy efforts focused on ensuring patient access to evidence-based cervical fusion care and preserving appropriate physician decision-making.
NASS is a global multidisciplinary medical organization dedicated to fostering the highest quality, ethical, evidenced-based and value-based spine care by promoting education, research and advocacy. NASS is comprised of nearly 8,000 members from several disciplines, including orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, radiology, anesthesiology, research and physical therapy. For more information, visit www.spine.org, NASS’ Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn channels.
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