Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1477870
25 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Spine, orthopedic organizations take position on image requirement in prior authorizations By Carly Behm N ine spine and orthopedic societies argue that potential real- time image sharing requirements for prior authorizations may lead to unnecessary delays and denials of care. Commercial health plans and other third-party payers have considered adding image sharing as a prior authorization requirement for spine surgery, according to a June 7 statement issued by the societies. e organizations say that requirement is concerning because of additional costs, erroneous conclusions and the potential to devalue the importance of patient history and examination. "e doctor-patient relationship is an indispensable component of shared decision-making in choosing to undergo spine surgery," the statement said. "is choice must remain the purview of the patient and the surgeon. Using imaging studies in isolation, without clinical context, may undermine appropriate clinical diagnosis and treatment plans. e concept that image sharing should be a basis for prior authorization is an unnecessary and unwelcome impingement on the doctor-patient relationship, which will detrimentally interfere with the decision for spine surgery. Physicians who treat spine conditions adamantly oppose requiring the submission of patient images as a prior authorization requirement for spine surgery." e organizations endorsing the statement are: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Association of Neurological Surgeons Cervical Spine Research Society Congress of Neurological Surgeons AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Lumbar Spine Research Society North American Spine Society Scoliosis Research Society n 28 th Annual Meeting THE BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS OF ASCs October 27-29, 2022 // Swissotel // Chicago, Illinois The best business-focused strategic discussions in the ASC industry. Learn more at this three-day event than anywhere else.