[mmglobal]

(Should I ask when will this BC/BS end?)

A client of mine is scheduled for surgery in the US tomorrow. After 2 failed fusion surgeries, he needs a revision with an artificial disc on top at a now-degenerated adjacent level.

Everything was authorized by insurance company.

They evaluated their options and made their choice based on a copious amount of research.

They flew across the country, arriving in the surgery city on Sunday, and are expecting to have surgery tomorrow.

This afternoon... less than 24 hours before surgery, after they are already here at great expense and heartache.... they are told that the ADR portion of the surgery is not approved.

They can have a 3-level fusion.

They may be able to pay way too much for the disc portion of the surgery, but we are uncertain if that is even an option.

They can go home, out many thousands of dollars and many extra weeks of suffering and start again evaluating their options.

This is devastating.

I'm hoping to speak at the BC/BS meeting on Wednesday and I was wondering what I was going to say. Now I know.

When will this bullshit end? I've heard this story way too many times over the past few years. I thought we were nearing the end, now more than 2 years after Charite' approval and 5 months after ProDisc approval.

This is horrible. They may be forced into an inappropriate solution based on this incredible nonsense.

When will this end?

Mark