ZimVie announced that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has issued a positive medical policy decision applicable to anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT), effective July 6, 2022.
The decision expands potential treatment eligibility to patients indicated for AVBT within the 30+ million members covered under Anthem BCBS, and outlines the medical necessity criteria that must be met for coverage of AVBT.
ZimVie’s Tether™ non-fusion scoliosis treatment device is reported to be the first and only FDA-approved device for AVBT. Its humanitarian device exemption (HDE) was granted based on over seven years of clinical data validating the safety and effectiveness of The Tether in scoliosis correction. Over 1,200 children have received The Tether since HDE approval in 2019, with approximately 50 U.S. surgeons performing the procedure today.
“This decision marks a significant win for Anthem BCBS patients and the broader pediatric scoliosis community,” said Rebecca Whitney, SVP and President of ZimVie Spine. “Before the development of anterior vertebral body tethering, the primary surgical option for children with scoliosis was a spinal fusion with rigid rods that could limit mobility. The coverage decision from Anthem will provide children with greater access to AVBT as a motion preserving alternative that may allow them to return to their active daily lives. We hope that this decision also paves the way for policy updates from additional payers to positively impact the lives of children with scoliosis.”
ZimVie announced that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has issued a positive medical policy decision applicable to anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT), effective July 6, 2022.
The decision expands potential treatment eligibility to patients indicated for AVBT within the 30+ million members covered under Anthem BCBS, and outlines the...
ZimVie announced that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has issued a positive medical policy decision applicable to anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT), effective July 6, 2022.
The decision expands potential treatment eligibility to patients indicated for AVBT within the 30+ million members covered under Anthem BCBS, and outlines the medical necessity criteria that must be met for coverage of AVBT.
ZimVie’s Tether™ non-fusion scoliosis treatment device is reported to be the first and only FDA-approved device for AVBT. Its humanitarian device exemption (HDE) was granted based on over seven years of clinical data validating the safety and effectiveness of The Tether in scoliosis correction. Over 1,200 children have received The Tether since HDE approval in 2019, with approximately 50 U.S. surgeons performing the procedure today.
“This decision marks a significant win for Anthem BCBS patients and the broader pediatric scoliosis community,” said Rebecca Whitney, SVP and President of ZimVie Spine. “Before the development of anterior vertebral body tethering, the primary surgical option for children with scoliosis was a spinal fusion with rigid rods that could limit mobility. The coverage decision from Anthem will provide children with greater access to AVBT as a motion preserving alternative that may allow them to return to their active daily lives. We hope that this decision also paves the way for policy updates from additional payers to positively impact the lives of children with scoliosis.”
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