Contents

 Commentary

n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
A Balancing Act   
Stuart M. Weinstein, MD

n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
2003-2004: A Year of Maturation for NASS 
Thomas J. Errico, MD

 Current Concepts

n INVITED REVIEW
Regulators, Litigators and Morphine: Contradictory Legal Policies in the Regulation of Opioid Treatment of Chronic Noncancerous Pain 
Darren P. Mareiniss, MD; Howard Morgan, MD, MA

n CURVE/COUNTERCURVE
Autologous Bone Graft or BMP-2 for Spinal Fusion 
David W. Polly, Jr, MD; Jung U. Yoo, MD; Jeffrey C. Wang, MD

n LITERATURE REVIEW
New from the Journals 
Robert J. Gatchel, PhD; Paul M. Arnold, MD; Gert K. Polzhofer, MD; Inneke H. Drespe; Jonathan N. Grauer, MD; Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD

n ABSTRACT REVIEW
NASS Annual Meeting Abstracts 
Michael Schaufele, MD; Scott Boden, MD

 Socioeconomics & Politics 

n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
The Magic of Modifiers 
Annette Grady, CPC, CPC-H

n CODING Q & A
Coding Paravertebral Facet Joint Nerve Destruction by Neurolytic Agent 
NASS Coding Committee

n ADVOCACY, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, PAC

Election 2004. Health Care Proposals: Comparing the Candidates 
Tom Faciszewski, MD; Jacqueline M. Kocinski

 NASS News