Require the Use of Cryoablation for the Nuss Procedure in Minnesota

 

The purpose of this bill is to require cryoablation usage in the nuss procedure to minimize hospital stay, pain, and

opioid usage.

 

The use of cryoablation in the nuss procedure is typically used to reduce pain and speed up recovery. With the use of

cryoablation, people who get the procedure are able to go home after just a 1 night hospital stay with minimal

restrictions after the procedure. The pain reduction also helps minimize the use of opioids for pain relief which is

very beneficial in the long term so people don't get addicted to opioids. Cryoablation also does not take much extra

time in the procedure, only adding an additional 30-60 minutes. The faster recovery time also allows students more

flexible scheduling time for the surgery because they do not need a 5-7 day hospital stay and 4-6 week restrictions on

activity and upper body movement. This bill would be effective and possible due to cryoablation being used in some

surgeries already.

 

 

Cryoablation: Cryoablation is a medical procedure that uses extreme cold probes to temporarily destroy abnormal tissue,

such as tumors or pain-causing nerves. In the nuss procedure they freeze the nerves in parts of the chest to numb pain.

The numbness lasts for 3 months usually.

Nuss procedure: A Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that corrects pectus excavatum, or a sunken chest

typically done between the ages of 10-19 but can be done on adults. This procedure uses one or more metal bars to push a

child’s breastbone forward to where it belongs.

Pectus excavatum: Pectus excavatum is an abnormally developed breastbone. This makes an indentation in your chest wall

that can cause physical and emotional issues.

Opioids: Opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs. These include both prescription

medications used to treat pain and illegal drugs like heroin.

 

 

This bill would be funded by a 0.175% increase in corporate income taxes which according to Minnesota's predicted

corporate income tax revenue for the 2026-2027 year cycle is $6.3 billion dollars and implementing this tax increase

would bring in around an estimated $11,025,000 dollars which would be able to fund Minnesota hospitals getting and using

cryoablation.

 

 

This would be enforced by the doctor performing the procedure not receiving payment for the procedure if they do it

without cryoablation, unless there is a justified cause for not doing it.

 

January 1st 2027.