This IPSIS members-only benefit allows you to receive answers to your vexing interventional pain medicine questions from experts in the field. Participate live, stream online, or listen on the go
— make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Ask your questions live, during the webinars, or send them now for future sessions to: AskTheExperts@IPSISMed.org. Upcoming Webinars
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 7:30 p.m. Central
On the next live Ask the Experts webinar, "The ‘Shneck’ — Addressing the Shoulder as a Masquerader of Neck Pain,” get answers to these questions:
What are the spine and non-spine causes of shoulder pain?
What history and exam features are important to differentiate cervical spine pain from other sources?
How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
When should we use ultrasound vs fluoro for shoulder intra-articular, subacromial or other injections?
How do we evaluate and treat thoracic outlet syndrome, bursitis/scapulothoracic bursitis, and scapular winging?
When should shoulder radiofrequency neurotomy procedures be considered?
When should shoulder peripheral stimulators be considered?
Your expert panel for this webinar includes:
Venu Akuthota, MD, Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine;
Brian D. Steinmetz, DO, Chair of the Pain Medicine Department at OSS Health in York, Pennsylvania; and
Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division.
Ask the Experts Webinars and Podcasts are an IPSIS members-only benefit that answers your specific interventional pain medicine questions. Pose your questions during the webinar or let our experts start pondering them now by emailing
us at AskTheExperts@IPSISmed.org.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒
In episode 16, our experts covered your questions on:
What constitutes an appropriate acute spine injury on-field assessment?
When is it necessary to immobilize the neck and transfer with a backboard?
How do you diagnose and treat lumbar spondylitic injuries?
What is an effective return-to-play protocol for spine injuries?
Where are potential opportunities to prevent spine injuries in athletics?
Your expert panel for this October 15, 2025 webinar included:
Stanley A. Herring, MD, a clinical professor in the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington;
Scott Laker, MD, a clinical professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and
Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee.
Episode 16 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒
In episode 15, our experts covered your questions on:
What are the spinal and non-spinal causes of buttocks pain?
How do we evaluate and treat piriformis syndrome? Is it real?
What is cluneal neuropathy?
How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
What history and exam results are important to differentiate spine-originating pain from other sources?
Why is the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for treating sacroiliac pain the “easiest hard” injection?
How do you evaluate and treat trochanteric bursitis/gluteal tendinitis, ischial bursitis/proximal hamstring tendinopathy?
When should we use ultrasound vs fluoroscopic guidance for intra-articular sacroiliac joint injections, lateral branch blocks, and/or radiofrequency ablation?
When should peripheral stimulators be considered?
Your expert panel for this August 20, 2025 webinar included:
Allen S. Chen, MD, MBA, Chief of Interventional Spine in the Department of Orthopedics at UCLA, who serves as Vice-Chair of the IPSIS Education Division, Co-Chair of the CME Committee, and as a member of the Education
Development Committee; and
Lisa Huynh, MD, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division at Stanford University, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the Education
Division, Conflict of Interest Committee, and Annual Meeting Program Committee.
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development
Committee.
Episode 15 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒
In episode 14, our experts covered your questions on:
What is facet joint syndrome?
What are the diagnostic and prognostic benefits of utilizing cervical and lumbar MBBs?
Which history, exam, and imaging indications suggest patients who would benefit from cervical or lumbar facet procedures?
What literature supports doing a “therapeutic” MBB?
Do we need to stop anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents prior to cervical and lumbar MBBs?
What are the appropriate imaging views needed for successful MBBs, and how do you deal with “difficult” cervical or lumbar anatomy?
What local anesthetic volumes are recommended for cervical and lumbar MBBs?
What is the role of contrast media in MBBs?
How do we interpret MBB results?
Why do we recommend dual MBBs?
Why do some patients get prolonged relief with MBBs?
Your expert panel for this June 25, 2025 webinar included:
Isaac Cohen, MD, Physiatrist at Connecticut Orthopaedics in Trumbull, Connecticut, who serves on the IPSIS Instructor Development Committee; and
Adrian Popescu, MD, Physiatrist at the Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who serves on the IPSIS Evidence Analysis Committee and the IPSIS Instructor Development Committee.
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development
Committee.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒
In episode 13, our experts covered your questions on:
How does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determine coverage and procedural reimbursement?
How are Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) made?
Who determines the evidence and eventual policy on LCD coverage?
Are specialists involved in the LCD development and revision process? If yes, how can one become involved?
Are there other documents besides LCDs necessary for CMS compliance?
Your expert panel for this April 17, 2025 webinar included:
Meredith Loveless, MD, FACOG, of CGS Administrators where she serves the 48,500 physicians and 2 million Medicare beneficiaries in Kentucky and Ohio as the Chief Medical Officer for the J15 A/B MAC (Medicare Administrative
Contractor); and
W. David Mauck, MD, Chairman of the Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who also serves IPSIS members as Health Policy Division Chair.
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development
Committee.
Episode 13 Show Notes: These are the Medicare resources and references mentioned on the webinar. We also encourage you to get directly involved in this process. Contact IPSIS Health Policy Director Sarah Cartagena, MS for details.
The definition of reasonable and necessary for Medicare coverage decisions:
Section 1862(2)(a) (1)(A) of the Social Security Act
The MAC will determine if an item or service is “reasonable and necessary" under Section 1862(2)(a) (1)(A) of the Act and if the service is:
Safe and effective;
Not experimental or investigational; and
Appropriate, including the duration and frequency in terms of whether the service or item is:
Furnished in accordance with accepted standards of medical practice for the diagnosis or treatment of the beneficiary’s condition or to improve the function of a malformed body member;
Furnished in a setting appropriate to the beneficiary’s medical needs and condition;
Ordered and furnished by qualified personnel; and
One that meets, but does not exceed, the beneficiary’s medical need
Top 10 ways providers can impact the LCD process:
LCD request/reconsiderations.
Research! Producing high quality literature to answer questions in evidence-based way.
Sharing pertinent literature with your MAC.
Serving as CAC member or as subject matter expert.
Participating in societies / providing input for societies.
Societies/panels to produce evidence-based guidelines – encourage use of GRADE or systematic evidence review process.
Present at open meeting or submit comments if concerns – back it up with evidence.
Full disclosure of potential bias.
Understand that we are fulfilling requirements determined by law when we follow the policy process.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download
the audio 🔒
In episode 12, our experts covered your questions on:
Which procedures benefit from conscious sedation?
When should a comparative medial branch block (MBB) be used to select patients?
Should a single MBB precede radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) procedures?
Should an anesthetic test dose be part of transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs)?
Are we all on the same page when we use terms including ablation, coagulation, neurotomy, and rhizotomy?
When considering imaging, is the contralateral oblique view superior to the lateral view for cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESIs) or for thoracic or lumbosacral ILESIs?
Is it helpful or necessary to obtain and review cervical MRI for TFESIs and ILESIs?
Your expert panel for this February 19, 2025 webinar included:
Fred DeFrancesch, MD, of NeuroMuscular Medical Associates in Hammond, Metairie, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who also serves on the IPSIS Education Division, Guidelines Committee, and Instructor Development Committee; and
Patrick H. Waring, MD, of the Pain Intervention Center in Metairie, Louisiana, who also serves on the IPSIS Education Division, Standards Division, and Guidelines Committee
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development
Committee.
Episode 12 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.
Watch online🔒or
listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒
In episode 10, our experts covered your questions on:
What does the latest research tell us about knee, shoulder, and hip joint denervation?
What protocol is recommended for identifying and treating pain with knee and other joint denervations?
Should we consider denervation before or after joint replacement, peripheral stimulation, or orthobiologic therapy in our protocol?
Which modality provides the most effective image guidance – fluoroscopy or ultrasound – and can or should they be combined?
Do enhanced lesioning treatments utilizing cooled radiofrequency, bipolar, and or multi-tined radiofrequency probes improve outcomes?
Is phenol neurolysis comparable to radiofrequency denervation, and if so, what phenol volume and concentration should be used?
Are hip and shoulder denervation comparable to knee denervation on a risk vs benefit basis?
Your expert panel for this October 10, 2024 webinar included:
Christine Hunt, DO, MS, of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, who also serves IPSIS as Vice-Chair of the Evidence Analysis Committee; and
Ameet Nagpal, MD, MS, MEd, MBA, of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, who also serves IPSIS as Chair of the Guidelines Committee.
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who also serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large.
Episode 10 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.
Watch online 🔒 or listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒.
In episode 6, our experts covered your questions on:
Which "red flag" symptoms warrant imaging?
Other than trauma and "red flags," when else do we need imaging, and what should we get?
When MRI isn’t an option, when is a myelogram preferred over a "dry” CT?
Can bone scans assist in diagnosing facet-mediated and /or other types of pain?
How are modic changes associated with low back pain?
When are interventional pain physicians responsible for incidental findings?
What are the latest recommendations about gadolinium?
Your expert panel for this February 8, 2024 webinar included:
Felix E. Diehn, MD, Consultant and Associate Professor in Radiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; and
IPSIS Secretary, Vinil Shah, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology and Chief of the Neuroradiology Division at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who also serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large.
Watch online 🔒 or listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒.
In episode 5, our experts covered topics not addressed in the prior Peri-procedural Considerations webinar,
regarding pre-, intra-, and post-procedure patient care, and provided specific:
Tactics to Help Treat Patients with Contrast Media Allergies
Tips on Addressing Radiofrequency Neurotomy Challenges Posed by Patients with Pacemakers, Defibrillators, and Other Implanted Hardware
Selection Strategies for Injectate Composition and Volume
Your expert panel for this December 5, 2023 webinar included:
IPSIS Treasurer, Zachary L. McCormick, MD, Vice Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Utah; and
IPSIS Research Division Chair, W. Evan Rivers, DO, a physiatrist at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.
The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who also serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large.
Watch online 🔒 or listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Click here to download the audio 🔒.
In episode 3, our experts covered your questions on:
What are the thrombotic implications of stopping ACAP medications?
Which procedures can be safely performed without stopping ACAP medications?
If stopped, are some ACAP medications more likely to result in thrombotic events?
What are the incidence and implications of bleeding complications during procedures, and are these risks increased when ACAP medications are continued?
Why should interventionists be more involved in ACAP medication decisions instead of reflexively deferring to the prescribing physician?
Your expert panel for this August 15, 2023 webinar included:
Byron J. Schneider, MD, Director of the Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and
Gene Tekmyster, DO, Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at Keck Hospital of USC.
The panel was moderated by Michael B. Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health.
