Washington Society of
Interventional Pain Physicians

Our Mission: To promote the development and practice of safe, high quality, cost-effective interventional techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and related disorders, and to ensure patient access to these interventions.

Provocation Discography

Our state government has formed a healthcare technologies assessment group that includes stte medical directors (HCA, L&I, DSHS, Uniform Medical) and other staff. They selected a few technologies to tackle in the first few years. Due to the stae's perception that too many fusions were being perfomred for weak indications, spinal fusion for "uncomplicated" degenerative discs was placed on their assessment list. Tehy did consdier discography as an indicator for fsuion of uncomplicated DDD to be part of this assessment. The HTA did make a non-covered status decision for provocation discography, supposedly only in the context of uncomplicated DDD, but not necessarily only linked to being part of a fusion work up.

Our expertise was not consulted in this decion process. WSIPP is quite concerned with the HTA process and decision. We are seeking clarification that provocation discography be respected as a valid diagniostic test distinct and separable from fusion.

Progress on this will be better with participation from multiple members and not just your leaders.

The HTA website will be posting much of their work around discography and fusions. www.hta.hca.wa.gov