January 2022 Issue of Becker's Spine Review
ON THE COVER
The 2022 Spine Surgery Excellence Award: 100 hospitals honored
Healthgrades has recognized 100 hospitals in its Spine Surgery Excellence Award for 2022, which honors facilities that provide superior patient outcomes in back and neck surgeries and spinal fusion.
Why spine surgery is a key outpatient growth opportunity
The evolution of minimally invasive techniques, cost savings and an aging baby boomer population are some of the factors contributing to the spine market becoming a key outpatient growth opportunity in the coming years.
Top 25 states for orthopedic surgeons
Maine is ranked the top state in the country for orthopedic surgeons to live and work by job market research company Zippia.
Medtronic unveils new head of spine division
Harry "Skip" Kiil has been appointed president of Medtronic's cranial and spinal technologies operating unit, effective Jan. 4.
CMS returns 14 spine codes to inpatient-only list in 2022
CMS is walking back its proposed elimination of the inpatient-only list and returning most of the services it removed from the list in 2022.
Spine surgery in 5 years: 5 surgeon predictions
Over the next five years, minimally invasive technologies such as robotics and endoscopy are expected to become more prominent in spine surgery, and hospitals may be used only for complex cases on patients with significant comorbidities.
Zimmer Biomet recalls surgical robot
Zimmer Biomet has recalled its Rosa One 3.1 brain application because of a software error that could lead to the misplacement of instruments during neurosurgical procedures.
Physician pay is changing: 8 specialties up, 9 down in 2021
Despite many nonemergency surgery hurdles since the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic surgeons overtook orthopedic surgeons as the highest-paid specialty in the country this year, taking home an average annual salary of $526,000, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report."
Wireless implants planned for spinal fusion
One devicemaker's recent seed funding round could help bring wireless implants to spine surgery, IoT World Today reported Oct. 28.
15 details on USPI's $1.2B acquisition of SurgCenter
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, on Nov. 8 announced its plan to acquire SurgCenter Development for about $1.2 billion by the year's end.
AMA accepts CPT add-on code for 2nd level lumbar disc replacement
The American Medical Association accepted a new CPT add-on code for the second level of lumbar total disc replacement procedures.
SPINE SURGEONS
Rutgers puts neurosurgery chief on leave after 'ghost surgery' allegations
Anil Nanda, MD, head of neurosurgery at Rutgers University's two medical schools in New Jersey, has been put on paid administrative leave after allegations of professional misconduct, according to nj.com.
Dr. John Shin spearheads Mass General's AR spine surgery program
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has implemented augmented reality technology in its operating rooms to assist surgeons performing spine procedures.
Tiger Woods, Whoopi Goldberg and more: 6 high-profile spine, orthopedic surgeries in 2021
From sports stars to television hosts, here are six high-profile cases that caught the attention of Becker's readers so far in 2021.
CMS returns 14 spine codes to inpatient-only list in 2022
CMS is walking back its proposed elimination of the inpatient-only list and returning most of the services it removed from the list in 2022.
Colorado surgeon performs disc replacement on NHL player
Neurosurgeon Chad Prusmack, MD, performed an artificial disc replacement on the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights player Jack Eichel, Sportsnet reported Nov. 13.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The downsides of spine robots: Equipment failure, software glitches & more
The benefits of spine robots are widely touted, but some surgeons see the technology in its current format as providing more hype than real clinical advantage.
How 6 spine surgeons are upping their patient referral game
A growing number of patients are using online platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube to seek out healthcare providers, which presents a key opportunity for surgeons to expand their patient base.
The biggest challenges & opportunities in orthopedics: Q&A with OrthoIndy's president
Ed Hellman, MD, president and interim CEO of Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy, has navigated several healthcare challenges over the last 30 years as an orthopedic surgeon.
Spine market is the biggest opportunity for growth, Hoag Orthopedic Institute CEO says
Irvine, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute has appointed Kim Mikes, BSN, RN, as its third consecutive female CEO.
Spine surgery in 5 years: 5 surgeon predictions
Over the next five years, minimally invasive technologies such as robotics and endoscopy are expected to become more prominent in spine surgery, and hospitals may be used only for complex cases on patients with significant comorbidities.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Fewer indirect pay deals will be subject to Stark scrutiny in 2022: 3 notes
CMS reduced the number of indirect compensation agreements subject to Stark Law referral and billing prohibitions in its Nov. 2 clarification of indirect compensation arrangements , according to a JDSupra report by Matthew Westbrook, an attorney specializing in healthcare regulatory compliance.
Medical malpractice lawsuits: 5 stats for orthopedic surgeons to know
Most orthopedic surgeons have been named in a medical malpractice lawsuit, according to Medscape's Medical Malpractice Report 2021.
OrthoLoneStar launches spine, orthopedic bundles in Texas
Houston-based OrthoLoneStar has teamed up with Greenwich, Conn.-based Cedar Gate Technologies to bring a value-based care program for spine and orthopedic care in Texas.
Who leads the top orthopedic, neurosurgery residency programs
Doximity's 2021-2022 Residency Navigator ranks the top residency programs for multiple medical specialities in the U.S.
Geisinger plans $180M orthopedic center in Pennsylvania
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger is planning a $180 million orthopedic center.
DEVICES & IMPLANTS
11 observations on the spine industry in 2021
From trends in physician compensation to emerging technologies and what's going on in the medical device industry, here are 11 observations on the spine industry in 2021:
2 spinal fracture treatments can reduce or eliminate opioid use, lower payer costs, study finds
Balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty procedures for spinal fractures were found to help reduce oral opioid use and decrease payer costs, according to a study published in Osteoporosis International.
Spine surgeon appointed CMO of medtech company
Spine surgeon Frank Cammisa, MD, was named chief medical officer of Orthobond.
DePuy, J&J whistleblower case tossed over misuse of confidential files
A lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics of defrauding the government by advertising defective hip replacement devices has been scrapped after it was discovered that the plaintiffs misused confidential records, according to an order unsealed Dec. 8.
Elon Musk's Neuralink implants could help patients with spinal cord injuries in 2022
Elon Musk aims to use Neuralink implants in human patients in 2022, he told The Wall Street Journal in a Dec. 6 interview.
ASC
CMS finalizes 2022 rules with 255 procedures removed from ASC-payable list
CMS on Nov. 2 finalized the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System final rule for 2022.
OIG says physician-owner can profit from employed CRNA performing anesthesia in ASC
A physician-owner of a pain management practice can profit from an employed certified registered nurse anesthetist providing anesthesia services in an office and ASC partly owned by the physician, according to a OIG advisory opinion discussed in a Nov. 19 report from JD Supra.
USPI vs. Surgery Partners vs. SCA in Q3: 11 notes
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, OptumHealth, which includes ASC chain Surgical Care Affiliates, and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners, are three of the largest ASC management companies.
15 of the most expensive ASC projects of 2021
The ambulatory surgery space has been active with new construction in 2021. Here are 15 of the most expensive, strictly outpatient projects this year:
15 details on USPI's $1.2B acquisition of SurgCenter
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, on Nov. 8 announced its plan to acquire SurgCenter Development for about $1.2 billion by the year's end.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Physician pay is changing: 8 specialties up, 9 down in 2021
Despite many nonemergency surgery hurdles since the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic surgeons overtook orthopedic surgeons as the highest-paid specialty in the country this year, taking home an average annual salary of $526,000, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report."
Surprise billing in the US: 4 things to know
Surprise billing rules will take effect Jan. 1 and are intended to protect patients from unexpected costs and create a process for payers and providers to settle disputes.
Physicians get temporary reprieve from Medicare pay cuts
Physicians faced a Medicare pay cut next year of about 9 percent before President Joe Biden signed a bill Dec. 10 temporarily averting the cuts.
CMS clarifies rule against physician self-referral for 2022: 3 details
CMS tightened regulations on physician self-referral and indirect compensation arrangements in its 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule.
Biden administration to invest $1.5B in healthcare workforce
The Biden administration is investing $1.5 billion from the COVID-19 aid package to address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved communities, the White House announced Nov. 22.