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View Public Comments for Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement

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[126 Comments]
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First character of titleCommenterComment Information
A
Abitbol, Jean Jacques Title: President
Organization: North American Spine Society
Date: 09/15/2005
Comment:

The North American Spine Society (NASS) is the leading multidisciplinary medical society advancing quality spine care through education, research, and advocacy. NASS membership comprises 21 specialties providing spine care including: More opens in new window

A
Anagnost, Steven Title: MD
Organization: OSU Department of Orthopaedics
Date: 09/11/2005
Comment:

Limiting new technologies, especially in spine
and orthopaedics, can have catastrauphic effects
on our ability to expand and improve current
options for health care. While most surgeons
agree that disc arthroplasty is not ideal More opens in new window

A
Araghi D.O., Ali Date: 08/31/2005
Comment:

I am a Board Certified Orthopaedic Spine
Surgeon. I have reviewed Dr Deyo's letter, and
have extensive experience with artificial disc
replacement(ADR). While Dr Deyo's point
regarding ADR and osteoporosis is valid, More opens in new window

A
Armstrong, Larry Title: Neurosurgeon
Date: 08/30/2005
Comment:

I have great concern regarding a recommendation
made to deny all Medicare patients from
benefitting from lumbar disc replacement. It
seems not only irrational but also impetuous to
make a blanket policy concerning so many More opens in new window

B
Balderston, Richard Title: Chief, Spine Service
Date: 09/14/2005
Comment:

I am shocked by Dr. Richard Deyo’s letter of August 5, 2005. The CHARITE-Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement and the Pro Disc Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement (of which I was an investigator) were one of the very few studies on any spinal More opens in new window

B
Balderston, Richard Title: Chief, Spine Service
Organization: Pennsylvania Hospital
Date: 09/15/2005
Comment:

I am shocked by Dr. Richard Deyo’s letter of August 5, 2005. The CHARITE-Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement and the Pro Disc Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement (of which I was an investigator) were one of the very few studies on any spinal More opens in new window

B
Banco, Robert Title: Assistant Clinical Professor Tufts University
Organization: The Boston Spine Group
Date: 09/17/2005
Comment:

I am strongly opposed to the request by Dr. Deyo to institute a non coverage policy for all medicare beneficiaries for lumbar spine arthroplasty. I was a Charite` IDE investigator and I have been implanting these devices for 5 years. It is More opens in new window

B
Barker, John Title: M.D.
Organization: Rocky Mountain Spine Clinic
Date: 09/12/2005
Comment:

Limiting a physician's control of what procedure
or implant the physician feels is appropriate for
a patient not the perogative of the insurance
company. Lumbar artificial disc replacement is
not indicated for osteoporosis, More opens in new window

B
Bauer, R. David Title: ordinary physician caring for patients
Organization: Garland Spine Center
Date: 08/30/2005
Comment:

The applicability for the Charite in the elderly
Medicare population is limited. Dr. Deyo's
comments in regards to the contraindications of
osteoporosis and arthritis are correct. However,
there is a large number of individuals More opens in new window

B
Bellotte, Jonathan Title: Director of Neurotrauma
Organization: Allegheny General Hospital
Date: 09/15/2005
Comment:

I am opposed to denying coverage for total disc arthoplasty to the
medicare population. This proceedure fills an important gap in
what we have been able to offer patients to date. I fell that strict
criteria should be used to More opens in new window

B
Betz, Randal Title: President
Organization: Scoliosis Research Society
Date: 09/16/2005
Comment:

The request by Dr. Deyo is an inappropriate and untimely request for the use of CMS resources to make a national coverage decision. The reasons for this are as follows:

1) There are at least three FDA IDE lumbar disk studies that have More opens in new window

B
Bitan, Fabien Date: 09/16/2005
Comment:

I am one of the US investigator for Charite artificial disc and have been trained in France in the early years of this technology in the mid 80's. Lot of information has been learned from my mentors and US patients enjoy the More opens in new window

B
Blacklock, J Bob Organization: The Methodist Hospital Neurological Institute
Date: 09/14/2005
Comment:

Dr.Deyo has made a case for not providing
reimbursement for the implantation of an
artificial disc in "elderly Medicare patients."
He bases this on his observation of studies
having been limited to patients under 60 years of More opens in new window

B
Blumenthal, Scott Title: President
Organization: Texas Back Institute
Date: 09/12/2005
Comment:

As a practicing spine surgeon who regularly performs both spinal fusions and spinal arthroplasty, I would like to comment on lumbar disc replacement. My additional qualifications include serving as the lead investigator for the FDA-approved More opens in new window

B
Boden, Scott Title: Professor
Organization: Emory University School of Medicine
Date: 09/10/2005
Comment:

I am a Board Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
and Director of The Emory Spine Center. Although
Disc Replacement technology is exciting and has
reasonable short term results, it is true that we
do not know the long term More opens in new window

B
Bosita, Renato Title: President
Organization: Texas Back Institute
Date: 09/12/2005
Comment:

As a practicing spine surgeon who regularly
performs both spinal fusions and spinal
arthroplasty, I would like to comment on lumbar
disc replacement. Both the data from the FDA IDE
study and my own clinical experience indicate More opens in new window

B
Bradford, David Title: Professor Orthopedic Surgery
Organization: niversity of California/ San Francisco
Date: 09/16/2005
Comment:

I have reviewed a recent letter sent to CMS by Dr Deyo requesting an NCD on the Charite lumbar disc replacement. Although I support the role that CMS plays in the health care of Medicare beneficiaries, I do not feel that there is sufficient data More opens in new window

B
Brodke, Darrel Title: Associate Professor
Organization: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah
Date: 09/02/2005
Comment:

I have some concerns regarding the NCA and Dr.
Deyo's letter delineating his position on Artificial Disc
Replacement. While there are significant concerns regarding this
technology (as with many technologies that are More opens in new window
B
brown, adam Title: Neurosurgeon
Date: 09/16/2005
Comment:

I am a board certified neurosurgeron who does a large number of spine procedures, including medicare patients. Artificial disc replacement is a great concept in (previously) active people who want to remain active. To deny this More opens in new window

C
Cach, Robert Title: MD
Organization: Idaho Neurosurgical Center
Date: 08/31/2005
Comment:

I suggest using a stringent list of selection
criteria in order to screen patients,
particularly the elderly for whom it may be
contraindicative. I have implemented this in my
practice and it has worked More opens in new window

C
Calvert, Barbara Title: Director, Medical Products Reimbursement
Organization: Abbott
Date: 09/16/2005
Comment:

Abbott appreciates the opportunity to submit comments on the request for a national coverage decision on lumbar artificial disc replacement. Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, More opens in new window

C
Cammisa, Frank P. Title: Chief, Spinal Surgical Service
Organization: Hospital for Special Surgery
Date: 09/12/2005
Comment:

I am writing because I am concerned about the decision CMS has made to possibly undertake a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) of the CHARITE® intervertebral disc replacement for the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD).

As More opens in new window

C
Cappuccino, Andrew Organization: Buffalo Spine Surgery
Date: 09/15/2005
Comment:

I read with great interest Dr. Deyo's comments and recommendations to CMS concerning TDA. It should be noted that Dr. Deyo has neither spinal nor surgical background. Dr. Deyo is an internist who does not treat or care for patients with spinal More opens in new window

C
Carl, Allen Title: Professor Ortho Surgery
Organization: Albany Medical College
Date: 08/31/2005
Comment:

I have not used the disc replacement yet but the
reported results are generally not different
when compared to fusion patients. I am concerned
that a physician who is not a spine surgeon is
making a statement to deter support of More opens in new window

C
chamberlin, eric Title: Orthopaedic Surgeon
Organization: Pittsburgh Bone and Joint Surgeons
Date: 09/14/2005
Comment:

Disc arthroplasty surgery is a relatively new option for patients with degenerative disc problems. The major advantage of arthroplasty is motion preservation. While disc arthroplasty is not an option for all patients, it is important More opens in new window

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