Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1489874
5 SPINE Proposed wRVUs for 9 spine procedures By Carly Behm T he International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery shared CMS' 2023 proposed work relative value units for nine spine procedures compared to expert recommendations. e recommendations were formed by the American Medical As- sociation/Multi-Specialty Society Relative Value Update Committee, ISASS said Sept. 9. Here are the procedures with their proposed CMS and RUC wRVUs for 2023: CPT code: 22630 (PLIF with minimal decompression first level) 2022 wRVU: 22.09 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 20.42 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 22.09 CPT code: 22632 (PLIF with minimal decompression additional level) 2022 wRVU: 5.22 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 5.22 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 5.22 CPT code: 22633 (TLIF with minimal decompression first level) 2022 wRVU: 27.75 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 24.83 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 26.80 CPT code: 22634 (TLIF w/minimal decompression additional level) 2022 wRVU: 8.16 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 7.30 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 7.96 CPT code: 63052 (lumbar decompression with arthrodesis first level) 2022 wRVU: N/A 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 4.25 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 5.70 CPT code: 63053 (lumbar decompression with arthrodesis first level) 2022 wRVU: N/A 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 5.00 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 3.78 CPT code: 63020 (laminotomy cervical first level) 2022 wRVU: 16.20 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 14.91 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 15.96 CPT code: 63030 (laminotomy lumbar first level) 2022 wRVU: 13.18 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 12.00 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 13.18 CPT code: 63035 (laminotomy cervical or lumbar additional level) 2022 wRVU: 3.15 2023 proposed CMS wRUV: 3.86 2023 proposed RUC wRVU: 4.00 n Aetna settles 239-person class suit over spine surgery coverage By Carly Behm A etna Life Insurance reached a settlement to resolve a 239-person class action lawsuit over its coverage of lumbar artificial disc replacements. Plaintiffs Brian Hendricks and Andrew Sagalongos reached the settlement with Aetna on Dec. 2, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The amount of the settlement wasn't disclosed, but the parties will convene in February 2023 to address the next steps. The settlement concludes a yearslong saga that began with a 2019 lawsuit filed by Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Sagalongos. They alleged Aetna denied coverage for lumbar artificial disc replacements, violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Aetna had argued that lumbar artificial disc replacement was "experimental and investigational," despite the procedure being FDA-approved for more than a decade. The lawsuit was initially dismissed. In 2021, it was allowed to go forward. n Indianapolis Colts linebacker has back surgery after consultation with Dr. Robert Watkins By Carly Behm S haquille Leonard, a linebacker with the Indianapolis Colts, had season-ending back surgery after meeting with Robert Watkins, MD. Mr. Leonard was scheduled to meet with Dr. Watkins on Nov. 14 in Los Angeles, ESPN reported Nov. 12. NFL reporter Ian Rapoport said Nov. 15 that Mr. Leonard underwent back surgery after "several evaluations." It was not reported who operated on the linebacker. Mr. Leonard has dealt with back- and nerve-related issues since having another surgery in June, ESPN reported. n