SCS Coverage Expands in Washington State

On June 3, 2024, IPSIS and other medical societies expressed support for many of Washington State’s changes to the spinal cord stimulation (SCS) coverage policy advanced by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). The policy will extend SCS coverage to patients suffering from nonsurgical refractory back pain (NSRBP), failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). These changes stem from the persistent efforts of the IPSIS-coordinated Washington State Physicians SCS Workgroup. Their testimony at the November 2023 meeting played a crucial role in securing conditional coverage support. IPSIS commends our Washington members for their relentless local efforts to shepherd these significant policy changes.

While we have made significant strides, more than 2.7 million residents of the Evergreen State remain without SCS coverage for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which will not be covered under this new policy. IPSIS remains committed to collaborating with the HCA to refine interventional pain policies, ensuring they are evidence-based and patient-focused. Those in Washington are encouraged to help keep the interventional pain community informed about the impact of these changes by sharing your 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.