The American College of Radiology (ACR), Society for Interventional Radiology¸ and the Washington State Radiological Society have submitted comments to the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) challenging its noncoverage policy for vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and sacroplasty (VKS).
The Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee recently published its draft findings and decision and requested public comment; the committee is expected to publish its final evidence report on April 2.
In the draft, the committee said that “significant questions remain” about the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of VKS.
In a statement, the ACR Contractor Advisory Committee Network said that it is disappointed by the state’s noncoverage decision, and noted that VKS has received favorable Medicare coverage policies across the U.S. Its letter formally requests an immediate reopening of the coverage decision.
The ACR noted that it joined nine other medical specialty societies in submitting comments with supporting evidence to the HCA on the noncoverage decision in October.