Becker's Spine Review

4 SPINE New spine codes to further clarify back pain By Carly Behm New updates in the family of ICD-10-CM codes will provide further specifications for back pain. e ICD-10 Coding Committee released a new set of diagnostic codes to specifically describe intervertebral disc degeneration with discogenic pain, a spokesperson for the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery told Becker's. e payment rule was released April 10 and will take effect Oct. 1. ISASS has advocated for these changes in the past. In 2023, the society requested an update during a public forum. Spine surgeon Morgan Lorio, MD, ISASS' chair of coding and reimbursement task force and incoming president, has been at the forefront of the push. "e impact of these new ICD-10 codes for discogenic low back pain on spinal interventions and treatment is expected to be positive, leading to more personalized, effective, and accessible care for patients with spinal disorders," Dr. Lorio said. "ese codes represent a significant advancement in the field that has the potential to benefit both patients and providers alike." Dr. Lorio said in a statement to Becker's benefits of the new codes are: 1. Precision in diagnosis: Healthcare providers will have clearer criteria for diagnosing discogenic low back pain, allowing for more precise identification of the underlying pathology. is can guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes by ensuring that interventions are targeted to the specific cause of the pain. 2. Tailored treatment approaches: With a better understanding of the specific nature of discogenic low back pain, clinicians can tailor treatment approaches to individual patients. is may involve a combination of conservative therapies, minimally invasive procedures and surgical interventions, depending on the severity and characteristics of the condition. 3. Innovation and research: e availability of standardized codes can stimulate innovation and research in the field of spinal interventions. Researchers may be motivated to develop new techniques, devices and therapies aimed at addressing discogenic low back pain more effectively, knowing that there is a clearer pathway for reimbursement and utilization. 4. Expanded access to advanced therapies: Reimbursement pathways for disc restoration, regeneration, and arthroplasty can increase access to advanced therapies for patients with discogenic low back pain. is may include regenerative medicine techniques, motion-preserving implants and other cutting-edge interventions that were previously underutilized due to reimbursement barriers. 5. Improved documentation and communication: Standardized coding for discogenic low back pain enhances documentation and communication between healthcare providers, insurers and regulatory agencies. is can streamline administrative processes, facilitate accurate billing and reimbursement and ensure that patients receive appropriate care based on established guidelines and protocols. n Dr. Adam Kanter named executive medical director of neuroscience institute By Carly Behm A dam Kanter, MD, was named executive medical director of Hoag's Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach, Calif. Dr. Kanter is a neurosurgeon with fellowship training in spine and neurological surgery. He will lead a group of experts focused on conditions including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis, according to an April 22 news release from Hoag. Stepping into this role, my priority is to integrate the latest research and technology with the exceptional level of compassion that defines Hoag's care," Dr. Kanter said in the release. "I'm here to help contribute to meaningful improvements in our patients' lives, embracing innovation and AI, but not at the expense of the human touch that sets us apart." Dr. Kanter joined Hoag as neurosurgery chief in 2022. Before that, he was chief of spine surgery at UPMC. n Neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons see similar TLIF outcomes: Study By Carly Behm A matched analysis published in the June issue of Spine found experienced neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons had similar outcomes after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions. Researchers analyzed patient records between 2010 and 2022 to identify patients with lumbar spinal or spondylolisthesis who had one- to three-level TLIF procedures. Spine surgeons and neurosurgeons who performed at least 250 procedures were included in the study, and patients who had surgery for tumor, trauma, or infection were excluded. One-to-one matching created two groups of 18,195 TLIF patients without baseline differences. There were no differences in all-cause surgical complications, but neurosurgeons saw a higher rate of all-cause medical complications. n

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