Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Aug. 17, 2017.
CMS cancels cardiac bundles, scales back CJR model
CMS issued a proposed rule on Aug. 15 that would cancel or scale back major bundled payment initiatives. Under the proposed rule, the CJR program would be mandatory for hospitals in 34 of the 67 geographic areas chosen for the program. The CJR model would continue on a voluntarily basis in the other 33 geographic areas. The proposed rule would also make participating in the CJR model voluntary for all low volume and rural hospitals in the 67 areas.
Top hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery: US News & World Report 2017-18 rankings
U.S. News & World Report released the 2017-18 Best Hospital rankings, including specialty rankings for neurology and neurosurgery services. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital and Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital topped the list. See which other hospitals made the cut, here.
NuVasive appoints new CFO
NuVasive designated Rajesh Asarpota as its new executive vice president and CFO, effective Sept. 1. Mr. Asarpota joins NuVasive with nearly 25 years of experience in financial and executive leadership roles across the healthcare industry. For the last seven years he has served private healthcare companies in executive financial and operational roles.
Stryker Spine receives FDA clearance for Serrato Pedicle Screw: 5 key notes
Stryker Spine received FDA clearance for the Serrato Pedicle Screw, which surgeons use in non-cervical procedures with the Xia 3 Spinal System. The Serrato Pedicle Screw is designed with serrated cutting flutes as well as a dual-thread pattern to increase the number of leads for rapid insertion.
Alphatec reports $24.4M in Q2 2017 revenue
Alphatec reported total revenue of $24.4 million for the second quarter of 2017. U.S. commercial business total revenue was $21.9 million, and the company's total operating expenses were $16.5 million, a decrease of $3.7 million from the first quarter of 2017.
Expanding Orthopedics earns 2 patents for expandable cage technology
Expanding Orthopedics received two U.S. patents for its expandable cage technology. The patents strengthen the company's portfolio of anatomically fit expandable devices.
FDA clears Camber Spine Technologies' SPIRA Open Matrix ALIF
Camber Spine Technologies earned FDA clearance for its SPIRA Open Matrix ALIF device. The SPIRA device is intended to boost fusion rates and stabilization, and is equipped with spiral support arches that load shares across the whole endplate.
Tissue Regenix acquires CellRight Technologies in $30M deal
Tissue Regenix acquired CellRight Technologies on Aug. 10 for $30 million. Tissue Regenix hopes the acquisition will boost its U.S. presence by more than doubling its sales in the area. The company creates technology designed to regenerate tissue via a scaffold composed of decellularized animal and human tissue. CellRight Technologies developed bone technology that aligns with Tissue Regenix's soft tissue-based platform.