ASIPP

05/28/2026

On May 28, 2026, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Board of Directors submitted a formal letter to UnitedHealthcare leadership regarding recently implemented referral requirements affecting Medicare Advantage HMO and HMO-POS plans.

The letter, addressed to UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Stephen J. Hemsley and Chief Medical Officer Anne Docimo, MD, expresses significant concerns regarding revisions to the referral process that took effect on April 30, 2026.

The letter states that the updated requirements have created substantial administrative burdens for referring physicians and may result in delays, reduced referrals, interruptions in continuity of care, and barriers to medically necessary interventional pain management treatment for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

ASIPP requested that UnitedHealthcare reconsider the revised policy and either return to the previous one-time referral process or implement a simplified annual renewal process comparable to prior referral standards.

The letter notes that the current revised process requires referring physicians to enter separate referrals for each individual practitioner within an interventional pain management group practice, rather than allowing a single referral for the practice itself. ASIPP stated that this approach creates unnecessary administrative burdens and may delay timely patient access to care.

The Board of Directors further emphasized that Medicare Advantage plans are required to follow established Medicare coverage policies, including applicable Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) and national Medicare coverage standards.

Referenced Medicare Local Coverage Determinations include:

• LCD – Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management (L38773):
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=38773&ver=30&ContrId=228&ContrVer=2&CntrctrSelected=228*2&Cntrctr=228&name=&DocType=2%7C4&bc=AAAAgACAAAAA&=

• LCD – Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management (L39015):
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=39015&ver=16&bc=0

• LCD – Sacroiliac Joint Injections and Procedures (L39383):
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=39383&ver=13&bc=0

The letter also references federal Medicare Advantage coverage requirements under 42 U.S.C. § 1395w-22(a)(1)(A), CMS Medicare Managed Care Manual Chapter 4, Section 10.1, and 42 C.F.R. § 422.101(b).

Read the full letter:
https://asipp.org/sent-letter-to-steven-hemsley-and-anne-domico-requirements-for-medicare-advantage-hmo-hmo-pos-plans-5-26-26/

05/27/2026

Earn up to 16 CMEs this August at a Hands-On Workshop in Memphis.

Attend the Friday workshop plus one Saturday workshop for hands-on learning in:

• Ultrasound for Regenerative Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine (Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced)
• Interventional Techniques in IPM (Basic, Intermediate & PNS)

https://conta.cc/4ftoyPc

Register: https://conta.cc/4ftoyPc

05/24/2026

This August, ASIPP brings three hands-on educational workshops to Memphis:

• Ultrasound for Regenerative Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine Cadaver Workshop (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced)
• Interventional Techniques in IPM Cadaver Workshop (Basic/Intermediate/PNS)

Attend Friday + Saturday to earn up to 16 CMEs.

Register: https://conta.cc/4ftoyPc

05/22/2026

👏 Congratulations to Joshua A. Hirsch, MD! The Keck School of Medicine of USC has appointed Dr. Hirsch chair of the Department of Radiology & will also be nominated as the holder of the Stewart Dale Fordham, MD, Chair in Radiology.
Click to read more: http://bit.ly/4dN8LbQ

05/22/2026

ASIPP Workshops are heading to Memphis this August!

• Ultrasound for Regenerative Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine Cadaver Workshop (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced)
• Interventional Techniques in IPM Cadaver Workshop (Basic/Intermediate/PNS)

Register: https://conta.cc/4ftoyPc

05/20/2026

Join ASIPP August 28 & 29 in Memphis, Tennessee for three hands-on educational workshops:

• Ultrasound for Regenerative Medicine Hands-On Workshop
• Regenerative Medicine Hands-On Cadaver Workshop (Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced)
• Interventional Techniques in IPM Hands-On Cadaver Workshop (Basic, Intermediate, & PNS)

Each workshop offers 8 CME credits through practical, hands-on instruction.
Optimize your visit to Memphis by attending the Friday workshop plus one Saturday workshop to earn up to 16 CMEs.

Space is limited — early registration is encouraged.

Learn More & Register: https://conta.cc/4ftoyPc

05/05/2026

Cigna to Cover Spinal Cord Stimulation for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a covered condition by Medicare and many other insurers however, Cigna has incorporated into the new policy effective August 4, 2026 to cover diabetic peripheral neuropathy when all the criteria are met as follows:

Trial

A short-term trial (i.e., at least [5] days) of a non-high-frequency or high-frequency (HF10 SCS) dorsal column spinal cord stimulator is considered medically necessary when ALL of the following criteria have been met:

• Performed for the treatment of chronic, intractable pain secondary to diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities

• Symptoms include BOTH of the following:
• lower extremity neuropathic pain present for >12 months
• pain is rated at least VAS ≥5

• Ineffective pain relief with or intolerance to at least TWO of the following:
• anticonvulsants
• tricyclic antidepressant
• SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)
• opioids

• If taking opioids, the opioid use is ≤100MME (morphine milligram equivalent) per day.

• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

05/04/2026

Cigna to Cover Spinal Cord Stimulation for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a covered condition by Medicare and many other insurers however, Cigna has incorporated into the new policy effective August 4, 2026 to cover diabetic peripheral neuropathy when all the criteria are met as follows:

Trial

A short-term trial (i.e., greater than 48 hours) of a non-high-frequency or high-frequency (HF10 SCS) dorsal column spinal cord stimulator is considered medically necessary when ALL of the following criteria have been met:

• Performed for the treatment of chronic, intractable pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) with intractable neuropathic leg pain (after prior surgery in the same spinal region)

• Failure of at least six (6) consecutive months of physician-supervised conservative medical management (e.g., pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or activity lifestyle modification

• Surgical intervention is not indicated, or the individual does not wish to proceed with spinal surgery

• Attestation by a behavioral health provider (i.e., a face-to-face or virtual assessment [with or without psychological questionnaires and/or psychological testing]) reveals no evidence of inadequately controlled mental and/or behavioral health conditions/ issues (e.g., substance use disorders, depression, or psychosis) that would impact perception of pain, and/or negatively impact the success of a SCS or contraindicate placement of the device

Permanent Implant

Permanent implantation of a non-high-frequency or high-frequency (HF10 SCS) dorsal column spinal cord stimulator is considered medically necessary when BOTH of the following criteria have been met:

• Must meet ALL criteria for a short-term trial spinal cord stimulator as noted above.

• There has been documented pain relief of at least 50% during a short-term trial of SCS.

View the Cigna Medical Coverage Policy: https://asipp.org/cigna-policy-not-in-effect-yet-08-04-2026/

Full article: https://asipp.org/cigna-to-cover-spinal-cord-stimulation-for-diabetic-peripheral-neuropathy/

04/28/2026

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians has submitted a formal letter to Greg Murphy, MD, sponsor of H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, expressing strong support for the legislation.

In the letter, ASIPP highlights ongoing concerns related to physician reimbursement and patient access to care, including:

• Declining reimbursement: Physician payment has decreased by 33% since 2001 when adjusted for inflation, with additional 2% sequestration cuts each year and looming 4% PAYGO cuts each year based on the Congressional Budget Office report.

• Rising practice costs: Medical inflation has significantly outpaced general inflation, with healthcare costs increasing by 121.3% compared to 86.1% for consumer goods and services. Practice costs have increased 56% from 2001 to 2025, while reimbursement has declined 33% overall and 41% for interventional pain physicians, with supply costs rising 78%.

• Access to care challenges: Current Medicare reimbursement policies are contributing to the closure of community-based practices, which is reducing patient access to high-quality interventional pain management services—particularly in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting.

ASIPP emphasizes that H.R. 8163 would help stabilize physician reimbursement by modernizing Medicare payment policies, including increasing the budget neutrality threshold, indexing it to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), and ensuring more frequent updates to practice expense inputs used in RVU calculations.

The letter underscores the importance of supporting independent physician practices to ensure continued access to high-quality, evidence-based pain care.

Read the full letter: https://ow.ly/IZ0O50YR68X

03/27/2026

Why was ASIPP created—and how has it evolved?

This video explores the origin, early development, and history of .
https://youtu.be/JIycecnaiFA

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