June 28, 2006

ASA Announces Initiative to Form a Pain Care Coding Partnership

Modern pain practice involves multiple specialties working together to alleviate a patient’s pain. ASA believes that it is important that these groups speak with one voice on matters concerning coding coverage and patient care. As such, ASA has invited the specialties involved in the development and valuation of CPT® codes for acute and chronic pain management to join together in an organized coalition to further our common goals. We are pleased to announce that the following specialty societies have agreed to participate in this partnership:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

American Academy of Pain Medicine

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons

American College of Radiology

American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

American Society of Neuroradiology

International Spine Intervention Society

North American Spine Society

Other multispecialty partnerships have achieved admirable success at the CPT® Editorial Panel and the AMA-Specialty Societies Relative Value System Update Committee (RUC). If the Pain Community works together, ASA anticipates much success in creating and obtaining appropriate valuation for CPT® codes that describe safe and effective pain procedures.