Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritic Knees

After recently speaking with my insurance company (I do not have Medicare) they will cover for knees the following: stem cells, PRP injections, Hyaluronate Injections, Bone Marrow Aspirate, Botox Injections, and Autologous Cultured Chondrocytes. But these procedures/injections must be proven to be medically necessary by your provider and the patient must meet certain criteria as dictated the insurance company. Anyone can find out what the criteria is and policy of their insurance company by googling some key words i.e., Medical Policy PRP injections CIGNA Kentucky. Or something like Medical Policy Osteoarthritis (name of your carrier) PRP injections, Maryland. These are just a few examples but I believe everyone may get the idea. Here is a link to one I found for Arkansas, Blue Cross Blue Shield. arkansasbluecross.com/members/other_links/coverage_policy.aspx. The CPT code for PRP injections is 0232T. Hope this info helps.

Thank you @scsm! I will check again!
-Dee

Sounds like what i did. My mri covered by insurance, Good luck on future work.

have a friend who has used Mayo and is happy with results

Hi @scsm! I called my insurance (Aetna) and also read the policy. Sadly, their requirements are so stringent, in essence, it still does not cover any of the procedures! Stem cell use is covered under "transplants" and use of stem cells is considered, but if related to fighting cancer. 🙁
In any event, I have had very positive results from PRP on my lower back and knees, so I do recommend the treatment, when done by a competent and legitimate professional. In the near future, though my insurance will not cover the cost of the procedure, I do plan to have stem cell injections in my knees (same clinic and doctor).
-Dee

A decision has to be made. Operation and pain and pills etc or spend the money, no pain pills or long recovery. Everyones call. I did what you did.

I did the same but went with stem cells in knees just at my age don’t need anymore surgery’s we saw that 60 beware of what surgery can do to you correct one thing but can. Cause so much more blood clots heart failure strokes etc
I stayed ladt year with stem cells in my knees
Reguvexx it has been great for me I had to hold on a table to get up with pain so bad till it subsided to move on now I get right out and go with no pain
Extsys dhows tge hriwth I got back from the shots it’s a year now end if treatment had tge stem cell and prp first then 3 6 9 12 pros
Now I’m going tomorrow fir my rotator cuff tear with great hope I chrck both ways my cells as opposed to tge same as my knees
My cells are old not as healthy as the ones in my knees tge cost was not that much difference so I’m doing tge dMe cells as before I’ll keep you posted I’ll get the 1 w prp tomorrow the again st 3 then 6 then 9 with no down time

HI Dee. Sorry to hear about your insurance. Maybe coverage in the near future will change as more and more results are published about the benefits of stem cells and PRP. How long did your PRP injection work for you? Was it a couple of months or longer? Were you still having pain two or three months after your PRP injections? What made you want to have stem cell injections instead of continuing the PRP injections? I will find out in the near future if my knees meet my insurance company's definition of "medical necessity". Wish me good luck!

Good morning @scsm! My recommendation is that you read your policy very well and "dig" in it. I read in GREAT detail the studies and guidelines Aetna uses to assert that these are "experimental treatments" ... UNBELIEVABLY OLD!!! The Golden Standard of the 1960s has little to do with current medical technologies! The Insurance Company does not benefit from "saving" on these procedures, because the cost of surgery (often repeated), physical therapy, nursing home care -- if needed for recovery, etc. is not only a higher cost to the Insurance Company, but also to the person and society as a whole.
I am sure this will apply to many other types of medical coverage, so I may submit my research to my Representative in Congress -- and see where that leads! What are your thoughts on the matter?
-Dee

Good luck I did tfe stem cells with tge pro this past year I could barely walk I’m doing great
I have had just thee prp in my shoulder this past year It helped but now I’m going to do the stem cells to repair with tge prp prayers it works as good as my knees
Always takes a chance but I don’t want more surgery I had enough In my studies
I need tfe stem cells to complete tfe repair just don’t want the arm to getvwirst tgat i dibt have this option
I talked to a few at tge clinic I gobtobsnd tgeir arms are doing good tge ones with tge knees are doing good to I’m in this a year so far good
I read that prp can only do so much with tge tear bd arthritis I needed more