Contents

 Commentary

n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
Patient Selection 
Stuart M. Weinstein, MD

n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
The Medical Professional Liability Insurance Dilemma: Why Is It a System
in Crisis 
Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD

n LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
William Boissonnault, PT, DHSc, FAAMOPT

  Current Concepts

n INVITED REVIEW
Gene Therapy to Prevent or Treat Disc Degeneration: Is this the Future? 
Conor O'Neill, MD; Todd Alamin, MD; Stuart M. Weinstein, MD

n CURVE COUNTERCURVE

The Utility of Provocation Discography in the Evaluation and Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A State of the Art Debate 
Conor O'Neill, MD; Todd Alamin, MD; Stuart M. Weinstein, MD

n SPECIAL FEATURE

Acupuncture for Spinal Pain 
Peter Gonzalez, MD; Venu Akuthota, MD

n LITERATURE REVIEW
New from the Journals 
Paul M. Arnold, MD; James Lawrence, MD; Jonathan N. Grauer, MD; Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD; Robert J. Gatchel, PhD; David L. Bagnall, MD 

n ABSTRACT REVIEW

NASS Annual Meeting Abstracts 
Michael Schaufele, MD; Scott Boden, MD

  Socioeconomics & Politics 

n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
The Magic of Modifiers, Part III: Surgical Modifiers 
Annette Grady, CPC, CPC-H

n CODING Q & A
What is the Correct Code for Laminoplasty? 
Robert Levinthal, MD

n REGULATORY POLICY
CMS Targets Spine Surgery: The Five-Year Review 
Charles Mick, MD

n ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/PAC
California Bill would Prohibit In-Office Diagnostic Testing 
California Orthopaedic Association

 NASS News