Revised Coverage Recommendations for Recombinant Human BMP-2 Released

The North American Spine Society (NASS) recently released revised coverage recommendations on Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein BMP-2. The organization develops and updates coverage recommendations for more than 30 spine care procedures, treatments, and diagnostics.

“Our updated, evidence-based NASS coverage recommendations gives providers a basis for appropriate use of rhBMP-2 (including select off-label indications where data now support it) and provides payers a credible standard to build medical policy around, which should reduce denials, appeals, and peer-to-peer delays for patients who genuinely need it,” said Dr. Mohamad Bydon, co-chair of NASS’ Coverage Committee and chair of Neurological Surgery at the University of Chicago.

“For patients, that translates into faster access to a graft option that if used correctly can improve fusion rates and reduce donor-site morbidity from autograft harvesting,” he continued. “What made this revision meaningful was in going back to the primary literature, the safety and efficacy picture for rhBMP-2 has matured considerably since the original recommendation, and payer policies had not kept pace with the evidence.”

NASS’ coverage documents continue to be used by U.S. government agencies, third-party payers, utilization management groups, spine care providers, and patients. 

NASS is a global multidisciplinary medical organization that fosters ethical, evidence-based, and value-based spine care by promoting education, research, and advocacy. NASS is comprised of nearly 8,000 members from several disciplines, including orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, radiology, anesthesiology, research, and physical therapy.