POLICY NUMBER: 2. 2. 8R

Effective Date: April 3, 1997
Date Issued: May 2, 1997
Date Approved by Board of Directors: April 3, 1997
Topic: Epidural Analgesia and Paravertebral Blocks
Section: Health Care
Subsection: Services/Treatments

Policy Statement

1. The Board accepts responsibility for epidural analgesia and paravertebral blocks for low back pain as per the following criteria.

1.1 Referrals may be made by an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Neurologist or Physiatrist.

1.2 Qualified Anaesthetists are usually the persons to whom these problems are referred for the procedure. Practitioners in the referring specialties mentioned above may carry out the procedures if they have an interest in them.

1.3 These procedures may be either diagnostic or therapeutic with the intention of breaking self-perpetuating cycles of chronic pain.

1.4 Proper consultations and reports are required for payment of the appropriate fee.

1.5 No more than three consecutive treatments are accepted unless there is a written request which receives the authorization of the Board.

1.6 These procedures may be carried out in the overall management at a Pain Clinic and in these circumstances the need for referral from an appropriate specialist does not apply.

Application

This Policy applies to all decisions made on or after April 3, 1997. It replaces Policy 2.2.8 issued on December 1, 1995 and effective February 1, 1996.

References

Workers' Compensation Act (Chapter 10, Acts of 1994 - 95), Section 102.