HealthPartners to Reimburse SImmetry Fusion Surgery

Alachua, Florida-based RTI Surgical, Inc. has announced that HealthPartners has issued a positive coverage decision for minimally invasive sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion surgery, effective November 1, 2018. This decision means that more patients needing treatment for SI joint pain or dysfunction can utilize RTI’s SImmetry System.

“As a surgeon in the HealthPartners network who has experience using the SImmetry System, this positive coverage decision is a win for patients suffering from SI joint dysfunction,” said Edward Santos, M.D., a spine surgeon specializing in neck, back, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal disorders, and minimally invasive surgery at Summit Orthopedics in Minneapolis.

“The SImmetry System is a minimally invasive surgical solution that promotes SI joint fusion through decortication, with a growing body of clinical evidence showing improvements in pain, disability and opioid use for SI joint patients.”

“RTI is encouraged by HealthPartners’ decision, which expands access to the SImmetry System for patients with SI joint pain or dysfunction,” said RTI Surgical President and CEO Camille Farhat. “The SImmetry System is supported by a growing body of evidence suggesting long-term pain relief for these patients. We are committed to advancing clinical data for the SImmetry System to aid in further payor decisions.”

According to the company, “The ongoing EVoluSIon Clinical Study is evaluating the impact of SImmetry on SI joint fusion and pain reduction in 250 patients across 23 sites. An early analysis of the first 50 patients published in December 2017 showed a 54% reduction in SI joint pain at six months, as well as a 55% reduction in opioid use.”

“A separate CT fusion study on the SImmetry System demonstrated a 73% reduction in average pain over 24 months.Clinical outcomes from 100 patients presented at the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) 2018 Annual Meeting showed the SImmetry System provided a 56% reduction in patient-reported pain, and a statistically significant reduction in the use of opioids and other pain medications at six months.”

This is significant, particularly when, as CEO Farhatexplained to OTW, one considers the size of the patient need for SI fusion surgeries: “The sacroiliac joint is the cause of up to 30% of patients presenting with low back [pain]. Proper diagnosis and treatment, which may include SI joint fusion surgery, may lead to relief of pain, reduction in opioid use and return to activities of daily living. The SImmetry System uses an innovative, minimally invasive decortication technology to promote SI joint fusion and RTI’s previously reported data show the SImmetry System results in significant improvements in pain, disability and opioid use in patients suffering from SI joint disfunction. RTI is encouraged by HealthPartner’s decision, which expands patient access and may help surgeons and patients consider SImmetry with more confidence.”