Spine Society Looks to Get Ahead Of Insurers With Coverage Guidelines
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
The North American Spine Society is trying to get its thoughts in up front and early to inject physicians’ views into the coverage process by writing its own set of guidelines to advise insurers.
You may also be interested in...
Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatments Under Pressure
A decade ago, the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCF) represented one of the fastest - and most innovative - segments of a spine industry that was set to explode. The two principal procedures - vertebroplasty and its distant cousin kyphoplasty - presented surgeons and interventionalists with a minimally invasive option to stop pain and, in the case of kyphoplasty, restore the shape and form to a broken vertebra. Now, two studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggesting that vertebroplasty procedures were no more effective in relieving pain than a placebo treatment have put pressure on VCF companies and doctors, who are facing pushback on reimbursement and some skepticism from even their own specialists.
Glaukos Holds Lead In Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery
Glaukos has emerged as the leader in microinvasive glaucoma surgery, a new treatment for the multibillion-dollar market. CEO Tom Burns lays out his vision for his company and for the future of MIGS.
Finding The Fit For Ophthalmology In The New Pfizer
The merger of Pfizer and Allergan might raise broader questions about the fairness – or long-term viability – of the corporate tax code in the US. But it also has generated some angst over Allergan’s future as a stalwart in ophthalmology.