NANS Leads Response to Washington State's Draft Guidelines for SCS Coverage

On behalf of the 40,000+ members across 10 medical societies, NANS submitted a response (PDF) to draft guidelines for SCS coverage proposed by the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee. This historic shift in coverage means that, for the first time ever, patients covered by state insurance will have access to SCS treatment for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), nonsurgical refractory back pain (NSRBP) and painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). This change was only possible due to the tireless advocacy of Washington-based physicians and national medical societies.

We applaud the recent proposed coverage policy changes for SCS and acknowledge that this milestone extends safe, effective and cost-effective therapies to Washington State patients suffering from chronic pain. However, we also wish to ensure this coverage aligns with evidence-based practices and care for patients. The draft guidelines did not align with SCS therapy standard of care for these proposed covered conditions. The letter also urges the Washington State Health Care Authority to reconsider its position on denying SCS for complex regional pain syndrome.
 
Last month, in a Washington State HTCC follow-up meeting, members voted to cover SCS for patients with FBSS, NSRBP and PDN.
 
Read more about this issue:

• Washington State Approves Coverage for Spinal Cord Stimulation, Granting Access to Care for Millions of Residents, 5/23/24
  
• Washington State Poised to Extend Coverage for SCS, 11/20/23 
  
• NANS Leads Effort to Extend Coverage for SCS in Washington State, 10/4/23