Accessed through the Hayes Knowledge Center, the Evidence Analysis Solution addresses the following fundamental questions to help our clients determine coverage positions:
Health Problem: Musculoskeletal pain is estimated to affect 13.5% to 47% of the population. Associated symptoms are disruptive; may include local or widespread pain that may worsen with movement; and cause stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.
Technology Description: Microcurrent electrical therapy (MET) is a form of electrical stimulation therapy…
Health Problem: Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by impaired metabolism of carbohydrates. Diabetes affects approximately 30 million Americans (9.4% of the population) and costs $327 billion annually in the United States.
Technology Description: The V-Go Insulin Delivery Device is a mechanical, self-contained, single-use disposabl…
Health Problem: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a common and well-known side effect of chemotherapy, affecting approximately 65% of patients who undergo chemotherapy for cancer. CIA is attributed to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs on the matrix cells of the hair follicles during hair growth phases. CIA has been associated with reduced quality of life, depres…
Health Problem: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common health condition that can cause substantive disability. There are many causes of CLBP, including spinal stenosis, disc disorders, and disc degeneration. Patients who have enduring low back pain even after surgery (e.g., laminectomy) are said to have failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis …
Health Problem: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common cause of aortic valve disease in older patients; approximately 7% of the population > 65 years of age is affected. The prevalence of AS is approximately 0.4% among adults aged ≥ 18 to 75 years in the United States. At younger ages, AS is most often related to bicuspid aortic valve but in older patients, AS is related t…
Health Problem: Chronic pain, usually defined as pain lasting ≥ 12 weeks, is commonly associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). The majority of SCI patients, many of whom are relatively young, will require long-term pain management. Chronic pain has profound implications on quality of life, with a strong association with depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. The chronic …
Health Problem: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, mood changes, and sleep disturbances.
Health Technology: Cranial electrical stimulation (CES) is a noninvasive therapeutic device that applies alternating pulsed current (< 1000 microamperes) transcutaneously to the head via electrodes placed on the earlobe…
Health Problem: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) can be defined as low back pain (usually, in the L1-L5 vertebrae in the lumbar region) that persists ≥ 12 weeks, even after treatment of the initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain. Low back pain impairs people’s physical and psychological health and their ability to work and take care of their family and social re…
Health Problem: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), characterized by reduced spinal canal dimensions and compressed neural elements in the lower back, is predominately caused by degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, ligaments, and bone structures of the spine. Mobility and quality of life are substantially adversely affected. LSS is the most common reason for spinal surg…
Health Problem: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder that is characterized by repeated starting and stopping of breathing during sleep. Patients with OSA typically exhibit loud snoring followed by periods of silence and then snorting, choking, or gasping upon continuation of breathing. This often leads to fragmented sleep and daytime sleepiness. The estimated pr…