When beginning the process of researching regenerative treatment options, patients can be presented with an overwhelming amount of information. This information can often result in more questions. Am I a candidate for regenerative therapies? How can these therapies help treat my condition? What can I do to help make my treatments more successful? Luckily, StemCell ARTS is able to help provide patients with a one-stop-shop to help patients get these questions answered. Dr. Chris Centeno, founder of Regenexx, created a guide that explains how Regenexx is pioneering the new field of Interventional Orthopedics, where the use of regenerative biologic treatments, such as adult stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma, are being used to help repair and strengthen damaged tissues. Utilizing a vast amount of internal data and research, the Orthopedics 2.0 book helps patients better understand their own conditions and how regenerative therapies can play a rital role in their recovery.
You might be asking yourself, “how do I get my hands on this great book?” StemCell ARTS is here to help. Next time you’re in the office, ask the staff for your own copy to take home with you. Looking for more information before scheduling your consultation? We have provided a link below to download your own free digital copy. Happy Reading!
For those interested in getting involved in an exercise routine, it is hard not to come across the world of CrossFit. Over the past couple years, there has been a significant increase in this fitness regime that combines resistance and aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, CrossFit often gets a bad rap due to its perceived propensity to cause injury. Shoulder injuries are particularly common due to the athletes performing snatches and other complex overhead movements. Typically, when one sustains shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, the first visit is to a surgeon. Research has shown that surgery may not be the answer. Fortunately, StemCell ARTS offers patients suffering from shoulder injuries an alternative to treating their shoulder conditions, while avoiding invasive surgical procedures.
Why is this so important to CrossFit athletes? Or anyone, for that matter?
Avoiding surgery also allows the patient to avoid the downtime and recovery that is typically associated with shoulder surgery. Patients are able to get back to the activities that they love, sooner than the patients who undergo surgical procedures. For CrossFit athletes, this means getting back in the gym faster and the ability to keep improving on their fitness. For patients outside of CrossFit, they are able to continue their day to day activity, without much interruption following a regenerative procedure.
Below, you will find a link to an article that features a CrossFit athlete treated by one of the physicians at StemCell ARTS. Bill, a high-level CrossFit athlete was able to avoid surgery to repair his rotator cuff by electing to proceed with the stem cell procedure offered at StemCell ARTS. Click the link below to read more about how Bill is doing following his stem cell procedure and learn more about why shoulder surgery may not be the way to go.
Regenerative therapies are gaining more and more popularity within multiple modalities of the health care field. Orthopedic practices, in particular, are seeing an increase in patients due to professional athletes sharing their experiences with stem cells and platelets for treatment of sports injuries and orthopedic conditions. With orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine professionals, etc. offering regenerative therapies, how does a patient determine which practice is best?
At StemCell ARTS, we use the Regenexx method of processing to produce, what we believe, is the most concentrated and pure version of stem cell and platelets to inject at the patients’ site of injury. What does the Regenexx method of processing mean? Most practices utilizing regenerative therapy as a form of treatment use machines called “bedside centrifuges” to process the regenerative samples. These samples can be full of red and white blood cells and only produce a concentration of 5-7x the concentration found in the human body. By processing the samples by hand, StemCell ARTS is able to produce a pure sample, free of red and white blood cells. We can also increase the concentration to much higher levels.
Not only is Regenexx and StemCell ARTS ahead of the game when it comes to the processing of regenerative therapies, but are also responsible for over 33% of all published articles regarding regenerative therapies. Regenexx is a research consortium that combines the knowledge and experience of over 30 physicians across the country. Regenexx researchers compile this information to consistently examine and improve the method of processing and injection of regenerative therapies.
The video below includes commentary from Dr. Chris Centeno, founder of Regenexx, and describes how the idea of utilizing regenerative therapies for interventional orthopedics came to fruition. By understanding the story behind Regenexx, we hope that patients will see what sets Regenexx-affiliated clinics, like StemCell ARTS, apart from the rest!
…that insurances will cover the initial consultation visit to discuss regnerative therapies?
The phrase “not covered by insurance” can be a scary thought when considering alternatives to surgery. Still considered “new” to the world of medicine, regenerative treatments are a non-covered service through insurance, leaving the cost to be the patient’s responsibility.
Although this may be a disheartening thought, the initial consultation can still qualify under a patient’s insurance. Scheduling a consultation with a StemCell ARTS physician allows for the chance to receive a full examination and diagnosis, while only being responsible for the copay, current deductible and/or co-insurance. Patients are able to leave the office with a full treatment plan and a breakdown of any potential cost and time commitments.
StemCell ARTS participates with most all insurances, and requires a referral based on specific insurances qualifications.
Currently insurances are not recognizing regenerative treatments as a covered service. Although multiple studies have been conducted, and data has been collected, the procedures are still considered “new” and “experimental.” As a result, this leaves patients with a choice; do they opt for a more invasive and sometimes problematic surgery, which is covered under insurance, or do they choose conservative regenerative treatments that are out of pocket? Although they both can be extremely successful, surgery vs. regenerative treatments always raises the question, “is the reward worth the risk?”
For many patients, surgery seems like the best option for pain relief. All of the office visits are covered, along with the surgery and post-surgery rehab. Patients are left to worry about little, other than their recovery. It may seem like insurance has everything covered, but patients still have their copays, high deductibles and coinsurances to worry about. Even though it seems like insurance carries the majority of the cost, most patients find themselves paying a large portion of this “covered” procedure out of their own pockets.
Recognized as a non-covered service, regenerative treatments offer patients the risk of out of pocket expenses, but the reward of non-invasive natural treatments that require little to no down time. New biological treatments offered at StemCell ARTS use the body’s natural healing mechanisms to treat various musculoskeletal conditions without the need for surgery. As a newer treatment in medicine, these procedures, though well supported with data, are currently not covered under any private insurance company.
Although the full cost is the patient’s responsibility, the Regenexx Protocol used at StemCell ARTS is a perfect example of “you get what you pay for.” With our in-office state of the art lab, we are able to offer patients the most advanced regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal conditions. Our technicians are able to isolate and concentrate each blood and stem cell sample to obtain the purest and strongest product, giving patients the maximum benefit with the minimal amount of treatments.
Before making any decisions or commitments, patients can schedule an initial consultation with one of the physicians at StemCell ARTS to have a comprehensive evaluation. StemCell ARTS participates with the majority of major insurance companies and the initial consultation visit, along with any follow ups, are submitted through the patient’s insurance. The patient will be responsible for their co-payment and deductible while in the office, and the remaining bill will be submitted to insurance for reimbursement.
The pricing for each procedure is based on the area being treated and the procedure being performed. As a general range, the procedures can run between $1,000 – $7,500. Following the consultation with the doctor and a treatment plan has been established, patients will receive more information regarding an exact price.
If you have been recommended to have an invasive surgery and are interested in exploring other options, call our office at 703-738-4381 to schedule an appointment with one the StemCell ARTS physicians.
StemCell ARTS and National Spine & Pain Centers are pleased to introduce the newest doctor to our medical team. Dr. Benjamin J. Newton will be practicing out of both the Chevy Chase and Tysons Corner locations. He is excited to bring his expertise and knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Newton spent a number of years treating athletes of all levels, from high school to professional. He developed his skills in regenerative medicine while completing a fellowship with the Centeno-Schultz clinic in Colorado.
Experienced in both interventional and regenerative therapies, Dr. Newton is delighted to start seeing English and Spanish speaking patients. View the video, below, to hear more about Dr. Newton.
StemCell ARTS is an Affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers
If the regenerative treatment options offered by StemCell ARTS are not right for you, National Spine and Pain Centers provide more traditional treatments for spine and joint conditions.
