Si-Bone said today that the US Military’s Tricare program has established a written coverage policy for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion surgeries, including those using its iFuse implant system.
The iFuse implant system is a triangular shaped minimally invasive surgical device designed for spinal fusion procedures to treat certain disorders of the sacroiliac joint, the San Jose, Calif.-based company said.
“Earlier this year, we met with Colonel Stephen C. Phillips, DO, MPH and his staff at the Defense Health Agency in Washington, D.C. and reviewed the extensive published clinical evidence for the iFuse Implant. Following that meeting, the Tricare policy team determined that coverage for MIS sacroiliac joint fusion was appropriate and warranted. We are now fully engaged with physicians at military facilities across the country to assist them in providing iFuse to appropriately diagnosed military personnel,” Si-Bone CCO Tony Recupero said in a prepared statement.
The new policy provides coverage for a total of 9.4 million members of the US military’s healthcare system and is retroactive to Aug. 23, 2016. Si-Bone said that the approval was based on “high quality prospective clinical evidence” published on its iFuse system.
“It gives me great pride to announce that the iFuse Procedure is considered a proven treatment by the United States Defense Health Agency and can now be appropriately offered to active and retired military personnel and their family members. Si-Bone is pleased to be able to help all the brave men and women in our armed forces for their service to our country,” Si-Bone health outcomes & reimbursement VP Michael Mydra said in a press release.
Last month, Si-Bone released data from a 6-year study of its iFuse Implant, touting significant reduction in opioid use for pain control in patients treated with the device.
Data from the study, which compared the iFuse implant to both conservative management and radiofrequency denervation for treating SI joint pain, was published in the journal Neurosurgery.