NANS Leads Effort to Extend Coverage for SCS in Washington State

On Monday, October 3, NANS led a multi-society response to Washington State Health Care Authority (WSHCA) on its review of the evidence for spinal cord stimulation.

Read the response letter here.

Washington State is the only entity in the US and Western Europe that does not approve SCS for any diagnosis for any patient with insurance covered by the Health Care Authority, a decision affecting about 2.5 million Washingtonians. This situation has lasted for more than 12 years.

Last year a group of pain physicians across the state requested WSHCA re-review the evidence. Their request was granted, but the report WSHCA issued was so methodologically flawed that it should not be used to make any coverage policy decisions.

Working with the Multisociety Pain Workgroup, NANS authored a forceful response to the re-review. For those affected by WSHCA’s policy, there is still time today to make your voice heard by submitting comments through the end of Monday, October 3.

A public hearing is scheduled for November 17. NANS will be there to fight for extending coverage across the state to those who need access to this critical therapy. We’ll keep you posted.