[Spinal Fusion, Microdiscectomy & Laminectomy Procedures] Spine Device Companies Feel Backlash Against Spinal Fusions

[Justin]

Spine Device Companies Feel Backlash Against Spinal Fusions

Becker's Orthopedic & Spine Review
Written by Laura Miller | February 08, 2011
Copyright © 2011 ASC Communications. All Rights Reserved.

As insurance companies increasingly resist coverage for spinal fusions, spine device companies such as Medtronic have seen a plateau in sales of spinal device products, according to a Minnesota Post report.

After seeing sales of spinal products increase for several years, Medtronic reported plateaued sales between 2009 and 2010. The flattening of sales can be attributed to more surgeons focusing on less expensive conservative options of care and insurance companies, such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, issuing stricter guidelines for covering spinal fusions.

Medtronic is responding to the spinal sales climate by enhancing marketing efforts with the hope of creating new clinical and economic evidence to support the products, according to the report.

Read the Minnesota Post report on the spinal device environment --> click here.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Justin

Thanks for the information.

Gil

[stogner245]

I was looking at this and it seems to be referring to spine fusions, which blue cross of n.c. calls the gold standard of care. I know they are all now trying to use more conservative measures because they are less expensive and sometimes are the best treatment. Some people like myself will never get better without surgery once it reaches a certian stage. I find the report confusing and wonder what it is that they are saying. All i do know is that many surgeons do abuse the system and all insurance companies have no idea of what is really going on with spine surgery. The need for surgery requires a lot investigation and i have seen to many people have it done when there was no indication. It is a real problem for the people who do need it, when there is no one working for insurance companies who can even interpret diagnostic testing or even understands what neurological pain is. Then we have the overzealous knife happy surgeons who only care about the money. Puts us between a rock and hard place. These decision makers should have to live a day in the worst pain they have ever experienced and then have to live with it everyday.Then I would like to hear what they have to say. I have been treating all kinds for 20 years and I always get a when that ******* comes in crying and saying he thought everyone was faking backpain. Just my opinion and I am still in the fight over my surgery. I may not win but i will rejoice when I take a few people down a few notches for professional incompetence and falsifying records. The Pen has power.

[KBear]

Well said. It is definitely troubling when I hear about people going under the knife after little or no conservative treatment and I'm sure that is exactly what insurers are trying to get rid of. Then you have the rest of us who really need surgery and get refused. Same thing with the doctors and patients who are pill pushers/ poppers and the ones who really are using it as it should be. There needs to be change, but it can't be across the board deny us all.