2009 Press Releases
10/15/09
In Memoriam: NASS Mourns Loss of Past President Vert Mooney, MD
The North American Spine Society (NASS) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Vert Mooney, MD. A founding member of NASS, Dr. Mooney served as NASS President from 1987-1988.
10/13/09
North American Spine Society Responds to Recent Vertebroplasty Studies’ Findings
The North American Spine Society (NASS) today released comments on two new studies on vertebroplasty and their significance to patient care. NASS’ comments, published in The Spine Journal online, were issued in response to two randomized controlled trials on vertebroplasty published on August 6, 2009 in the New England Journal of Medicine – A Randomized Trial of Vertebroplasty for Painful Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures and A Randomized Trial of Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Spinal Fractures. Both studies examined the benefit of vertebroplasty when compared to sham procedures.
8/05/09
North American Spine Society Releases New Guideline for Antithrombotic Therapies in Spine Surgery
The North American Spine Society (NASS) released a new Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for Multidisciplinary Spine Care for Antithrombotic Therapies in Spine Surgery.
7/28/09
North American Spine Society Expresses Concern over Proposed Federal Health Care Reform Legislation
“Several provisions will put patient access to care at risk”
As debate continues on proposed health care reform legislation, the “America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” (H.R. 3200), the North American Spine Society (NASS) today, in a letter to House leaders signed by NASS President Charles Branch, MD and NASS Advocacy Committee Chairman Raj Rao, MD, expressed concerns that elements within the overall package will fail to control costs, fail to improve quality and fail to improve access to care.
7/15/09
North American Spine Society Advocates for Permanent Medicare Part B Solution
“Urges Congress to fix the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate Formula”
In July 2008, Congress passed the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” a temporary solution necessary to avoid an immediate 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments. North American Spine Society (NASS) members today met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to make permanent changes to the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Formula under Medicare Part B a priority in health care reform discussions.
2/19/09
Analysis of High-Quality Trials Finds Exercise as the Only Proven Effective Method of Back Pain Prevention
With an annual cost to the United States of as much as $100 billion, low back pain imposes a significant burden on industrialized societies, in terms of symptoms, medical costs, productivity and particularly back pain-related work absence. Unfortunately, scientific efforts have provided little consensus on preventing this common musculoskeletal problem.
1/22/09
NASS Redefines Mission; Adopts Groundbreaking Disclosure Policy
The North American Spine Society, the leading multidisciplinary spine organization worldwide, has dramatically revised its existing disclosure policy for both members and nonmembers participating in NASS activities. Going several steps further than the original policy (which was adopted in January 2006), the new policy adopted by the NASS Board of Directors at the Toronto Annual Meeting in October 2008 requires that participants disclose actual dollar amounts of all relationships held in the 12 months preceding disclosure.
2008 Press Releases
10/15/08
Spine Specialist’s Clinical Instinct Not Sufficient When Assessing a Patient’s Psychological Distress
10/15/08
Surgical Outcomes Better for Patients With Leg Pain Predominant Degenerative Spondylolisthesis and Spinal Stenosis
10/15/08
Lumbar Fusion Offers Substantial Benefit for Medicare-Age Patients
10/15/08
Radiographic Findings Did Not Predict Outcome for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Treatment
8/1/08
NASS to Present Hottest Spine Topics at Annual Meeting in Toronto
7/16/08
NASS Strengthens its Efforts in Conflict of Interest (COI) and Ethics Arena
4/15/08
Medical Societies Join Forces in Response Effort to Washington State Health Care Authority's Health Technology Assessment on Artificial Discs
2/1/08
Winter Safety – A Guide to Preventing Back Injuries in Winter Months