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First Medicare Administrative Contractor allows coverage of MIS sacroiliac joint fusion
Si-Bone Inc. announced the Medicare Administrative Contractor Palmetto GBA will begin covering minimally invasive surgery for sacroiliac joint fusion, including when performed using the iFuse Implant System, on a case-by-case basis.
According to the Si-Bone press release, Palmetto has removed the CPT code 0334T, which is used by physicians to report the iFuse procedure, from their list of non-covered services. Palmetto is one of eight Part A/B Medicare Administrative Contractors in the United States and is the first to make this decision. The change will enable Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for the iFuse procedure throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
Commercially available in the United States and Europe, the iFuse procedure uses a small incision for delivery and implantation of titanium implants. The implants are coated with a porous, titanium plasma spray that acts as an interference surface and is designed to help decrease implant motion, provide immediate fixation and allow for biological fixation to support long-term fusion. The implants are intended for sacroiliac joint fusion for conditions including sacroiliac joint disruptions and degenerative sacroilitis, according to the release.