Earlier Treatment for VCFs for Aetna Patients

On May 21, 2024, IPSIS joined other medical societies in urging Aetna to reconsider their decision not to amend their Back Pain – Invasive Procedures coverage policy.

Last year, to align coverage criteria with those applied to Medicare patients, IPSIS and other medical societies requested adjustments of the medical necessity language within the vertebral augmentation coverage policies of many insurers. Specifically, we made these insurers aware of the clinical evidence supporting the need for earlier interventional treatment for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).

We urge Aetna to revise the policy and allow for these earlier, more inclusive interventional treatments — bringing their coverage into alignment with the latest medical evidence to improve patient outcomes.

IPSIS continues to monitor this issue and invites you to share your Aetna payment experiences on the IPSIS Open Forum or by emailing reimbursement@IPSISmed.org.

Help sustain this vital advocacy with your donations. The International Pain and Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS) is a tax-exempt organization under US section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.