Advocacy Action Center: Attend Oregon Health Authority's Meeting to Comment on Draft Coverage for Low Back Injections – January 16, 2017

January 16, 2017

On February 2, 2017 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m, we invite you to attend an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee meeting that will discuss two draft coverage guidances.  
 
Among other issues, the agenda will include discussion of the following topics:

1. Review public comment on draft coverage guidance on:
   1. Low Back Pain - Corticosteroid Injections
2. Review initial draft coverage guidance on:
   1. Low Back Pain: Minimally Invasive and Non-corticosteroid Percutaneous Interventions
   2. Sources for this topic are available on the topic blog
   3. Public comment period may be offered following the meeting

In May, your Academy, as part of the Multi-Society Pain Work Group, signed on to a letter commenting on Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) decision to eliminate coverage of epidural steroid injections (ESI), effective July 1. Largely due to the publication of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) technology assessment, this change was made despite the fact that it contradicts their existing coverage guidance on percutaneous interventions for low back pain. The comment letter we cosigned addressed concerns about the review process and highlights the safety and effectiveness of ESIs in appropriately-selected patients.

There will be an opportunity for verbal comments at this meeting:
Verbal comments are accepted at almost every HERC and subcommittee meeting. The only exception is for public meetings discussing a topic which have had or will have extended opportunity for public comment at another meeting. At meetings where public comment is accepted, any member of the public or group may sign up to provide verbal comments. Each commenter who signs up indicating a wish to testify will be invited to testify at the appropriate time. Due to time constraints, such comment may be limited to five minutes per topic (shared among all those who wish to testify). Commenters are encouraged to bring 15 copies of their complete testimony in written form to the public meeting and be prepared with one- and three-minute highlights of their testimony in case time is limited.
 
If you are interested in attending the in-person meeting:
Clackamas Community College
Wilsonville Training Center
29353 SW Town Center Loop E, Room 111-112
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
 
If you are interested in joining the public listen-in only line:
Dial-in: 1-888-204-5984
Participant Code: 801373
Webinar Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8076556499514384899

Please contact healthpolicy@aapmr.org with any questions or concerns.