Policy expands physician and patient access for vertebrogenic low back pain treatment
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 22, 2024 – Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has announced that Noridian Healthcare Solutions, a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), published a positive coverage determination for the Intracept™ Procedure. The new policy went into effect on Sunday, January 28, 2024, and applies to Noridian customers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Noridian is the second MAC to issue a local coverage determination for the Intracept Procedure, joining Palmetto GBA, LLC, whose policy went into effect in March 2023. Noridian’s policy, along with recent positive coverage policies from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Healthcare and Humana, is the latest milestone in the continued coverage expansion for the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared device for treatment of vertebrogenic low back pain, a distinct type of pain caused by damage to vertebral endplates, the interface between the disc and the vertebral body.
“As coverage for the Intracept Procedure continues to gain momentum, we remain dedicated to educating payers on the safety and clinical efficacy of this procedure,” said Ray Baker, chief medical officer, Relievant Medsystems. “Noridian’s positive coverage decision is an important step in advancing our goal to bring lasting relief to the millions of people with vertebrogenic pain.”
The minimally invasive Intracept Procedure is a same-day, outpatient procedure that uses targeted radiofrequency energy to stop the basivertebral nerve from transmitting pain signals to the brain. The procedure takes approximately one hour to perform and is designed to improve function and provide long-term relief.
“While the Intracept Procedure is validated by more than three decades of research, I’ve also witnessed the life-changing outcomes in my patients firsthand,” said Ramana Naidu, M.D., director of pain management, MarinHealth Medical Center and Interventional Pain Physician and Anesthesiologist, MarinHealth Spine Institute. “Noridian’s decision will help physicians and their patients gain access to this treatment and, ultimately, the significant pain and function improvements it can provide.”
For more information about the Intracept Procedure, visit: https://www.relievant.com/intracept/.
Boston Scientific completed its acquisition of Relievant Medsystems in November 2023.
About the Boston Scientific Chronic Pain Portfolio
The Boston Scientific portfolio of advanced chronic pain management solutions is designed to deliver lasting relief to improve the quality of life for the millions of people living with pain worldwide. Supported by robust clinical evidence, the comprehensive suite of transformative therapies includes the WaveWriter Alpha™ Spinal Cord Stimulator System, Intracept™ Procedure, Radiofrequency Ablation, and the Vertiflex™ Procedure† to provide safe and effective therapy options that help physicians address the unique needs of their patients.
About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of health care. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and connect on LinkedIn and X, formerly Twitter.
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Intracept Procedure = Intracept Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System
†Superion™ Indirect Decompression System