Awesome! Congratulations on the big victory. I love to hear about situations-- albeit stressful, complicated and frustrating-- were the outcome favors those in true dire need of help and were medicine/science & law JUSTIFIES proper medical use of these so-called "INVESTIGATIONAL MEDICAL DEVICES". I must say that I was fortunate to have an insurance- Aetna- that does cover ADR with the Prodisc L but I was going to be in for a long and hard fight if I did decide to go with a TLIF (fusion) because this procedure IS NOT a covered procedure even with proper coding and CPT codes. For the longest time and no matter what research I did or how hard I tried, there was apparently no doctor (neuro/ortho) that performed ADR surgery because they merely were not up to date on the latest technology. Luckily I found a very good expert and knowledgeable surgeon who I now-- if I could do back flips I would-- because thus far my results and progress have been favorable. I believe one other person on the forum- laidupdoc- is having this problem now with Aetna as this individual is possibly allergic to the metal(s) that are a component of the Prodisc L and Aetna's stance is that they don't pay for a fusion for discogenic pain. What a bunch of bull crap!!!!!
So again congratulations on your victory and I will also hold on to the appeal in my files because there are other individuals in my area that I know of who are currently in appeal status', although with different insurance!