Boston Scientific announced that Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), one of the largest commercial health insurers in the U.S., will now cover the Intracept procedure for eligible patients with chronic vertebrogenic back pain.

The policy took effect on December 1, 2025 and covers over 26 million people nationwide, the company said.

About 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic low back pain, and one in six is likely to have vertebrogenic pain. This is caused by damage to the vertebral endplates, the interface between the disc and the vertebral body.

Boston Scientific said the coverage milestone reflects rising recognition of the Intracept procedure’s clinical value for patients with vertebrogenic pain. It extends access to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared, minimally invasive, outpatient treatment option for those who have exhausted conservative therapies.

The implant-free, outpatient therapy uses targeted radiofrequency energy to stop the transmission of pain signals to the brain. It’s supported by two Level 1 randomized controlled trials that show durable improvements in both pain and function after a single treatment, the company said.

“This positive policy decision reflects the continued coverage momentum for Intracept that we’re seeing across commercial plans in the United States,” said Mary Hailey, vice president of health economics and reimbursement, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “We remain committed to working with payers on the growing body of Intracept clinical evidence, with the goal of expanding access to a therapy that is proven to deliver significant and durable relief.”

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