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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. 
You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101. 
 
The rules say that Painful, debilitating, osteoporotic vertebral collapse/compression fractures, defined as those 
that have not responded to non-surgical medical management (e.g. narcotic and/or non- narcotic medication, 
physical therapy modalities) with and without methods of immobility (e.g. rest, bracing). PVA (percutaneous 
vertebroplasty (PVP) or kyphoplasty (PKP)) is covered in patients with BOTH the following: 
 
1. Inclusion criteria (ALL are required): 
 
    Acute (< 6 weeks) or subacute (6-12 weeks) osteoporotic VCF (T1  L5) by recent (within 30 days) 
advanced imaging (bone marrow edema on MRI or bone-scan/SPECT/CT uptake)1-3,10,25,27 
    Symptomatic (ONE): 
        Hospitalized with severe pain (Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) or Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score = 
8)4-7 
        Non-hospitalized with moderate to severe pain (NRS or VAS =5) despite optimal non-surgical 
management (NSM)10* (ONE): 
            Worsening pain 
            Stable to improved pain (but NRS or VAS still =5) (with = 2 of the following): 
                Progression of vertebral body height loss 
                > 25% vertebral body height reduction 
                Kyphotic deformity 
                Severe impact of VCF on daily functioning (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) >17) 
 
* consider including pedicle periosteal infiltration7 
 
c. Continuum of care10 (BOTH): 
 
        All patients presenting with VCF should be referred for evaluation of BMD and osteoporosis education for 
subsequent treatment as indicated. 
         All patients with VCF should be instructed to take part in an osteoporosis prevention/treatment program. 
 
2. Exclusion criteria2,5,8-10 (Can have NONE of the following): 
 
a. Absolute contraindication 
 
        Current back pain is not primarily due to the identified acute or subacute VCF(s) 
        Osteomyelitis, discitis or active systemic or surgical site infection 
        Pregnancy 
 
b. Relative contraindication 
 
        Allergy to bone cement or opacification agents 
        Uncorrected coagulopathy 
        Spinal instability 
        Myelopathy from the fracture 
        Neurologic deficit 
        Neural impingement 
        Fracture retropulsion/canal compromise 
        Greater than three vertebral fractures 
 
Vertebral augmentation and KYPHOPLASTY for vertebral compression fractures with intractable spinal pain 
not relieved with medical therapy will be covered for osteolytic vertebral metastatic disease or myeloma 
involving a vertebral body. You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): 
Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (L35130). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com. 
 
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules.