New policy expands patient access to Intracept Procedure for chronic vertebrogenic back pain, covering 26 million lives
What’s New:
Boston Scientific today announced that Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), one of the largest commercial health insurers in the U.S., now covers the Intracept™ Procedure for eligible patients with chronic vertebrogenic low back pain. The policy went into effect December 1, 2025 and covers more than 26 million people nationwide.
Why It Matters:
Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. have chronic low back pain, and 1 in 6 is likely to have vertebrogenic pain, which is caused by damage to vertebral endplates, the interface between the disc and the vertebral body.[1]
This coverage milestone reflects growing recognition of the Intracept™ Procedure’s clinical value for patients with vertebrogenic pain. It expands access to an FDA-cleared, minimally invasive, outpatient treatment option for patients who have exhausted conservative therapies.
“This positive policy decision reflects the continued coverage momentum for Intracept that we’re seeing across commercial plans in the United States,” said Mary Hailey, vice president of health economics and reimbursement, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “We remain committed to working with payers on the growing body of Intracept clinical evidence, with the goal of expanding access to a therapy that is proven to deliver significant and durable relief.”
About the Intracept™ Procedure:
The Intracept™ Procedure, offered by Boston Scientific, is the only therapy specifically designed to target vertebrogenic pain with multiple long-term clinical studies demonstrating its safety, effectiveness and durability. The procedure is a minimally invasive, implant-free outpatient therapy that uses targeted radiofrequency energy to halt the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
The Intracept™ System is supported by strong scientific evidence, including two Level I RCTs that demonstrate durable improvements in both pain and function after a single treatment. [2], [3]
Visit www.pain.com to learn more about vertebrogenic pain and the Intracept™ Procedure, including an overview of indications, precautions, and risks.
About Boston Scientific:
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 45 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
###
References:
[1] Truven Marketscan 2015-2017 – Navigant Research
[2] Fischgrund J, Rhyne A, Macadaeg K, et al. Long-term outcomes following intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: 5-year treatment arm results from a prospective randomized double-blind sham-controlled multi-center study. Eur Spine J. 2020;29(8):1925-34. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-020-06448-x
[3] K. Macadaeg, E. Truumees, B. Boody, E. Pena, J. Arbuckle II, J. Gentile, R. Funk, D. Singh, S. Vinayek, A prospective, single arm study of intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: 12-month results, North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ) (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xnsj.2020.100030 MEDIA ALERT: New HCSC Coverage Expands Access to Boston Scientific’s Intracept™ Procedure for Chronic Back Pain