ASA Joins Coalition Demanding Coverage for Important Pain Procedures

In another step in the fight for patient access to safe, effective pain treatments and fair coverage of pain procedures, ASA recently joined a coalition of pain medicine societies to urge insurer coverage of implantable peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for chronic pain conditions.

ASA joined with the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS) and the Multi-Society Pain Workgroup (MPW) in several joint formal communications that emphasized the evidence showing PNS is an effective treatment for chronic pain patients. The communications highlighted the many clinical trials and observational studies that support the efficacy of PNS treatments, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of PNS devices, and national and local Medicare coverage policies that support the medical necessity of these procedures. 

This joint communication has been sent to four insurers thus far that deny coverage of these types of procedures – Cigna, United Healthcare and HCSC (which includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Montana), and Elevance Health. These insurers have active or draft policies that deny coverage of PNS for chronic pain.

This effort is aligned with ASA’s advocacy priority of expanded patient access to effective pain treatments, as well as fair insurer coverage of these types of procedures.