ASA advocates for spinal injection coverage in Oregon — 5 takeaways

The American Society of Anesthesiologists advised the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Evidence Review Committee to change its initial ruling to eliminate coverage for epidural steroid spinal injections.

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Here are five things to know:

 

1. The OHA is expected to debate the issue at its Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee meeting today, Apr. 6, 2017.

 

2. HERC’s ruling takes coverage away from low-income, disabled patients depending on the Oregon Health Plan and other state health programs.

 

3. ASA’s Committee on Pain Medicine Chair Asokumar Buvanendran, MD, said, “As a physician anesthesiologist with a special focus on pain medicine, I feel very strongly that the review committee reverse its initial ruling, so all patients in Oregon can have the hope of a future without debilitating pain.”

 

4. Many physicians turn to spinal injections once lifestyle changes, medications and physical therapy fail to improve a patient’s condition.

 

5. ASA believes spinal injections are effective in well-selected patients in the short- and long-term.

 

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