CMM-601 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Anterior cervical discectomy/corpectomy with fusion (including ACDF, corpectomy, osteotomy, repeat fusion, adjacent‑segment fusion, and ACDF after failed arthroplasty) is covered only when specific urgent/emergent indications or detailed procedure‑specific clinical, imaging, and conservative‑therapy criteria are met; procedures without meeting these criteria, ACDF performed without fusion, treatment for chronic non‑specific neck/arm pain or cervical degenerative disc disease without radiculopathy/myelopathy, and anterior endoscopic cervical decompression are not medically necessary or are investigational. Key requirements include concordant MRI/CT (and plain/flexion‑extension X‑rays where specified), documented failure of required conservative care for non‑urgent cases (typically ≥2 treatments or specified 6‑week trials), nicotine‑free status (blood cotinine ≤10 ng/mL or never‑smoker), absence of unmanaged significant behavioral health disorders, post‑op imaging ≥6 months to document pseudoarthrosis for repeat fusions, and generally >6 months since prior surgery for repeat/adjacent‑level procedures (many requirements are waived for urgent/emergent indications).