Sonospine accepts a wide range of insurance plans and policies. We do not, however, accept Medicaid at this time. Depending on the type of insurance and the state, coverage may differ. Please call us at 888-957-7463 and we’ll be happy to talk about your insurance coverage choices with you.
Is SonoSpine covered by Medicare?
He even told me how his hobby farm’s tractor was “calling his name.” “Wow,” I exclaimed. “I am ecstatic for you, and what a difference SonoSpine has made in your life!”
I sat in my chair and began to contemplate after making my way down the hall to my office.
This man’s life had been considerably enhanced by SonoSpine’s team of people and medical innovation. More importantly, our team benefited from his early return to work, as well as increased productivity now that he is pain-free. SonoSpine is a wonderful item that deserves to be recognized.
However, insurance was a major concern. Although the technology used by SonoSpine is FDA-approved, the operation does not currently have a Medicare procedure number that allows for wide insurance coverage. My acquaintance could afford an out-of-network provider that he thought would give him with better care. However, it appeared that the lack of insurance coverage was an injustice. This health-care choice should have been available to our entire office.
Fortunately, not long after seeing this mini-miracle, an opportunity arose for me to join SonoSpine as Chief Development Officer and contribute to the “good job” they were doing. I answered yes on the condition that we find a method to help more people, since a sense of service to something greater overcame me. “SonoSpine’s fusion avoidance spine surgery as the standard of treatment is our aim,” stated Dr. Dilan Ellegala, the company’s founder and chief surgeon, with a smile.
We discovered that self-insured firms have an excellent insurance coverage path for their employees suffering from chronic back and neck disorders as we explored the best strategies to reach new patients.
According to the Self-Insurance Institute of America, 90 million workers and dependents were covered by their employers’ self-funded insurance plans in 2011. (SIIA). According to SIIA, more than half of employers self-insure in industries like transportation, manufacturing, finance, retail, healthcare, and wholesale.
While commercial insurance will almost certainly cover SonoSpine procedures in the future, self-insured enterprises have a leg up because they may choose which procedures their insurance will cover. As a result, self-insured organizations can simply add SonoSpine to their list of covered procedures.
Our medical outcomes and packaged benefits strategy demonstrate a clear win-win-win situation for doctors, patients, and employers:
Employers/payors benefit from significant cost savings resulting from the SonoSpine technique’s lower initial cost compared to standard surgical spinal fusion, as well as savings resulting from a patient’s quick return to work and community following a SonoSpine procedure.
Due to the SonoSpine’s fusion-avoidance focus, patients receive a higher level of care (with considerably fewer problems) and, as a result, have an excellent quality of life.
We at SonoSpine consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be able to assist patients with pain relief. Surgery is not the goal, but if it is the best option, we should perform it in the least invasive way feasible.
Patients’ capacity to enjoy their days pain-free has a huge impact on everyone around them, therefore our ambition to push ourselves further in patient care has a rippling effect in their communities and organizations. That never gets old for us.
We’re asking others to join us in our efforts to expand SonoSpine’s procedure coverage.
We can see how this technology, which arose from DARPA-funded research, would benefit veterans and US service members with TRICARE, Tri-West, and Healthnet benefits.
At the end of the day, America is what you make it! Healthcare costs, which account for 18 percent of the country’s GDP, can be something that brings us together. We can address this if we are willing to take the risk of pausing for a moment to assist where we can.
How much does minimally invasive spine surgery cost?
When some MIS procedures for the spine were originally launched, Wang said the learning curve was even steeper and the procedures took longer to complete than typical open surgeries. However, as surgeons gained experience and more MIS techniques were created, the surgeries got faster and more efficient.
“Things have advanced, and we now have a wider range of MIS techniques. “The learning curve may not be worth it for some surgeries where smaller incisions are already used,” Wang said. “However, we are increasingly using similar procedures to more serious illnesses, and there are patients in my practice who have benefited from a MIS approach by avoiding a major open treatment. These can be found in revision situations or in more complicated disorders. When I come across these patients, I realize that the steep learning curve was well worth it.”
Cost-effective solution
MIS procedures for the spine, according to O’Toole, can provide a cost-effective treatment for many patients after the learning curve is surmounted. He claims that patients and surgeons alike believe that minimally invasive spine operations are always more expensive than typical open procedures. On the surface, some minimally invasive treatments appear to be more expensive due to equipment start-up expenses, but when all direct and indirect costs are included, they are frequently less expensive.
MIS of the spine has also transformed the flow for patients and their experiences with spine surgery, according to O’Toole.
“It has cut down on the length of stay, problems, and blood loss.” “Recovery durations are shorter, patients are returning to normal activities sooner, and all of this equates to significant cost savings,” O’Toole explained. “Acute care expenditures are incurred at the time of the procedure, thus the longer your stay, the higher the costs connected with hospitalization, transfusions, narcotic medications, and in-patient services.”
With MIS procedures in the spine, indirect and delayed costs are also decreased. Patients who undergo those treatments have a faster return to work time, allowing them to return to work sooner and requiring less postoperative care and home services, according to him.
“As you eliminate some of those issues, you’ll notice less indirect expenditures.” Both direct and indirect or delayed costs appear to be decreasing, as evidenced by a number of recent publications. “It’s really changed the landscape,” O’Toole remarked.
According to a 2011 study, the average cost per patient for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion was $14,183 and $18,633 for open lumbar fusion. The treatments can also be conducted in outpatient centers, according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, resulting in shorter hospital stays. When compared to open procedures for patients operated on at an outpatient center, costs were reported to be $760 lower for 1-level surgery and $2,106 lower for 2-level surgery.
Does insurance cover Microdiscectomy?
A microdiscectomy is a sophisticated procedure that necessitates the services of a surgeon with advanced expertise. As a result, it may be more costly than other back operations.
The cost of the surgery varies, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. Any follow-up visits or care may not be included in this pricing.
Once you’ve paid your deductible and coinsurance, your health insurance may cover a significant percentage of this cost.
If you don’t have health insurance, speak with your hospital, surgeon, and other medical specialists before proceeding with the treatment. Because you are paying out of pocket, see if you can negotiate a cheaper rate.
What is the average cost of laser spine surgery?
Many patients who are considering laser spine surgery are unaware that many insurance companies still consider the operation experimental, which means they are unwilling to fund the accompanying costs.
This is significant since laser spine operations can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $90,000, and many patients are surprised to learn that their insurance does not cover them, leaving them to foot the tab on their own.
For example, the now-defunct Laser Spine Institute cost around $30,000 for spine surgery, which is more than double what Aetna would pay, and Cigna won’t cover the laser portion at all.
Does Medicare cover Foraminotomy?
Discectomy, spinal laminectomy/spinal decompression, and foraminotomy are common spine operations reimbursed by Medicare if they are deemed medically necessary.
What is the cost of endoscopic spine surgery?
Spinal endoscopic surgery costs as little as $6500. However, costs can vary depending on factors such as the hospital’s location. Hospital of your choice.
Is sciatica surgery covered by insurance?
For a variety of reasons, the sciatic nerve, which runs through the leg from the lower back, can become irritated or inflamed. Sciatica can produce discomfort, muscle weakness, and a variety of other symptoms, regardless of the underlying reason. Fortunately, with sciatic treatment, the vast majority of individuals can bring their symptoms under control, which should be covered by insurance.
- Bulging or herniated discs – If one of the spine’s discs bulges or herniates, it can press up against nerve roots, especially the sciatic nerve, as a result of injury or degeneration.
- The sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle in the buttocks, which can be tight. Because of hereditary or other factors, the piriformis might be tight, causing compression and irritation.
- Spondylolisthesis – A spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips past another, putting pressure on the nerves.
- Bone spurs are abnormal calcium deposits on the vertebrae that can irritate the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica is usually treated without the need of intrusive procedures. Physical treatment, combined with regular exercise, is often highly effective in reducing symptoms. Flare-ups can be controlled using anti-inflammatory medicines. If alternative therapies fail, minimally invasive and open spine surgery, as well as cutting-edge treatments like stem cell therapy and nerve stimulation, can be used.
As long as your doctor thinks them medically essential, your insurance should cover any FDA-approved treatments for sciatica. This implies that whether you require physical therapy, medication, or surgery, your insurance will pay for it according to your contract’s provisions. For more information on your deductible, copays, and other factors that affect your out-of-pocket payments, contact your insurance company.
The vast majority of persons with sciatica are able to afford treatment with the support of insurance and, if necessary, third-party funding. This means there’s no reason to continue to suffer. Please fill out the form below or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at to schedule a consultation about sciatic treatment for your back condition.
Is scoliosis surgery covered by insurance?
- According to a study published in the medical journal Spine that looked at hospital expenses for more than 76,000 patients, the average cost of scoliosis surgery was almost $133,000 per patient.
- A doctor may advise waiting and observing in cases of mild scoliosis in children or teens, with a curve of less than 20-30 degrees. At least every six months, a doctor visit and X-rays are required. A doctor may recommend additional treatment if the curve develops more than five degrees.
- In severe situations in teenagers or adults (usually curves of 40-50 degrees), spinal fusion surgery may be required to straighten the spine and prevent or treat organ displacement, discomfort, or neurological problems. Scoliosis surgery is covered by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Scoliosis and treatment information is available from the National Institutes of Health.
- Some patients will require a cane, which normally costs $15-$80, or a walker, which can cost $200 or more, after surgery. A back brace or a corset may be required for some individuals, which can cost up to $200 or more.
- Some patients, particularly adults, require a few sessions of physical therapy after surgery, which cost between $50 and $350 per appointment.
- Shriners Hospitals for Children provides free scoliosis treatment to children and teenagers based solely on need, not on family money. Parents must apply for their child’s care.
- Uninsured/cash-paying patients can receive savings of up to 30% or more at hospitals and imaging centers. The Washington Hospital Healthcare System in California, for example, gives a 35% discount.
Is a Microdiscectomy painful?
The discomfort is the worst during the first two weeks after a microdiscectomy procedure. Stronger painkillers, such as opioids, are frequently used with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) (NSAIDs). Over the course of 1 to 2 weeks, most patients are gradually tapered off opioids. After opioids are stopped, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and other medicines may be used to manage pain.