On February 4, ASRA joined the Spine Intervention Society and five other pain medicine organizations, representing the Multisociety Pain Workgroup, in signing on to letters to several Medicare payer groups arguing for coverage of epidural injections for chronic pain. 

Several healthcare insurance payers have moved to discontinue coverage of the procedure due to concerns about effectiveness and risks. However, evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness of epidural injections in specific settings such as for relief of radicular neck and back pain. "When epidural injections are performed in a disciplined, responsible manner, they achieve outcomes that are clinically, socially, and economically worthwhile," the letter states. Key to making these treatments effective is careful patient assessment and diagnosis and expertise of the practitioner. For patients for whom other treatments have failed and surgery or other treatments are contraindicated, ESIs are a valuable alternative option.

CGS Administrators, LLC, of Nashville, TN

National Government Services of Indianapolis, IN

Noridan Healthcare Solutions, LLC, of Fargo, ND

Novitas Solutions, Inc. and First Coast Service Options, Inc. of Mechanicsburg, PA