Jason, well said. Umm, well said, because I agree with many of your points.
Can you relate your ideas back to the orginal post -- about the IRO process that some spine patients must endure? More specifically: is NAIRO "owned" by the insurance companies? Yes, or course they are! I've studied this travesty for years in many ways. The system is corrupt. But the need for specificity in this weird diagnosis is important! Out of all the problems in the "system," which one is the most obvious? The most addressible? The "low hanging fruit?"
So the real question is: why do insurance companies own the independent review process? What can we do to change the process to make it legit, fair and HONEST? That's my rant.
As the editor, I try to steer people back to the intent and needs of the orginal post author. Hence, this post.