J&J Artificial Spinal Disc Runs Into Insurance Issues

The U.S. launch of Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) artificial spinal disc has been hampered by insurance reimbursement issues. Some doctors say they would like to use J&J's Charite disc, approved last October by the FDA, but complain that insurance companies won't give them the go-ahead to implant the $11,500 device. J&J acknowledges that there have been cases of insurance companies turning down patients, but said in other cases the companies approved the procedure.

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