Arthroscopic knee surgery
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Report submitted to CMS by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons lists indicators for which the procedure is deemed "reasonable and necessary" for the osteoarthritic knee, including x-ray of no or minimal degenerative arthritis, normal alignment or minimal malalignment and mechanical symptoms such as locking, catching and buckling. The agency met with AAOS Jan. 30 to discuss the report, which could support a national coverage decision (NCD) for arthroscopic knee surgery in osteoarthritic knees. CMS expects to make a decision on the NCD by April 7...