SIS Notes Flawed Methodology Framing Oregon’s SCS Coverage Guidance Scope Statement

On February 15, 2018, the Spine Intervention Society (SIS) submitted comments to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on their draft scope statement for the coverage guidance on spinal cord stimulators (SCS) for chronic back pain.

The OHA’s Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) is charged with reviewing medical evidence in order to prioritize health spending in the Oregon Health Plan and to promote evidence-based medical practice. In this case, SIS finds that HERC has framed the consideration of SCS in such a way that the best available evidence may not be appropriately considered which may lead to egregious denial of access to procedures for many patients.