As per a recent statement from the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), the US state of Washington may be about to extend its insurance coverage policies relating to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapies.
Washington’s Health Technology Clinical Committee recently conducted a straw poll, with the majority of the committee voting in favour of covering SCS for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), non-surgical refractory chronic back pain, failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).
Earlier this year, NANS announced that, in response to a “methodologically flawed” re-review of existing evidence on SCS, it was leading advocacy efforts with the goal of extending coverage in the state.
And, more recently—on Friday 17 November—Washington’s Health Technology Clinical Committee met to hear from stakeholders on the issue.
NANS president Julie Pilitsis (Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA) provided the opening argument in favour of coverage, and was followed by American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) president-elect Christopher Gharibo (New York University, New York, USA).
According to NANS’ recent statement, a contingent of Washington physicians provided the bulk of the testimony, “dissecting the evidence for SCS and explaining the failures of the state’s report”. In addition, an industry representative and a patient advocate also spoke on the “critical need” for SCS in certain patients.
As a result, the state’s Health Technology Clinical Committee plans to reconvene in January 2024, with coverage language, for an official vote.
“The staff and committee leadership on the call commented that the committee has not yet reversed a straw poll when it comes to the official vote, so NANS is guardedly optimistic that there will be real change in Washington state!” the statement notes.
