Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management

Facet joint interventions (diagnostic IA/MBB, therapeutic IA/MBB, RFA, and cyst aspiration/rupture) are covered for chronic axial cervical/thoracic/lumbar pain when patients have ≥3 months of pain, failed noninvasive conservative care, no non-facet pathology, and meet required diagnostic response thresholds (each diagnostic block ≥80% relief). Therapeutic injections and RFA have staged prerequisites and outcome thresholds (therapeutic: ≥50% relief for ≥3 months; repeat RFA: ≥50% relief for ≥6 months), require imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT), documented pain/disability scales, and are subject to per-region frequency limits and level restrictions.

"Facet joint interventions (IA injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and facet cyst aspiration/rupture) are covered for diagnosis and treatment of chronic cervical, thoracic, or..."

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