Medical procedures rated by Washington state’s expert comparison shoppers

Since 2006, an obscure panel of 11 citizens has been serving as Washington's scientific watchdog on medical issues. Its mission is to review clinical evidence on potentially questionable medical technologies and decide whether their track records and costs merit coverage by state agencies. The Health Technology Assessment program has so far ruled against covering three procedures: the virtual colonoscopy, the upright MRI, and discography. Two other procedures, pediatric bariatric surgery and lumbar-fusion surgery for back pain, were approved with restrictions.