November/December 2010 Issue of Becker's Orthopedic & Spine Review

7 Healthcare Reform Changes Affecting Orthopedic Surgeons

Healthcare reform, with its many current and future changes to Medicare payment methodologies and to the “Stark” self-referral and fraud and abuse laws, is creating stricter regulations and new obligations for all physicians, including orthopedists. Click to continue »

Latest Trends in Spine Surgery Techniques: Laser and Stem Cell Technology

The latest trends in orthopedics and spine surgery have tended toward minimally invasive techniques. Making the transition between open spine surgeries to minimally invasive surgery is not easy, says Mark Flood, DO, of Celling Treatment Centers in Austin, Texas. Click to continue »

24 Orthopedic Practices With Great Sports Medicine Programs

This is a list of 24 orthopedic practices with great sports medicine programs. The list was devised from recommendations by leaders in sports medicine, nominations and research. Click to continue »

Publisher’s Letter: November/December 2010

Accountable Care Organizations – 9 Observations; Increased Integration Efforts; Increased Mergers and Acquisition Efforts; Call for Speakers: 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management Driven ASC Conference & 2nd Annual Hospital Conference — Improving Profits, ACOs, Physician Hospital Integration and Key Specialties Click to continue »

6 Ways to Avoid Denied Claims for Spine Procedures

Mona Kaul, chief coding and compliance officer of GENASCIS, which provides revenue cycle services and supporting technologies for surgery centers, discusses the following six ways ASCs can better avoid denied claims on spine procedures. Click to continue »

4 Technologies to Improve Orthopedic Practice Revenue Cycle Management

In the past few years, new practice management technology and software have been developed to help physician CEOs manage orthopedic practice revenue cycles and improve their practices' bottom lines. Click to continue »

AHA Complains of Overzealous False Claims Enforcement on Spinal Procedure

The AHA is complaining to federal regulators about overzealous enforcement of the False Claims Act in cases involving admissions for a spinal procedure, according to a report by AHA News Now. Click to continue »

3 Clarifications for Orthopedic Injection Coding

Coding for multiple injections, medication, fluoroscopy and orthography present challenges for coders working on orthopedic claims. In most cases, clear physician documentation can avoid confusion with coding claims. Click to continue »

4 Issues Which Will Shape the Future of Orthopedics

Peter Mandell, MD, chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Council on Advocacy, discusses four issues currently affecting orthopedics. Click to continue »

5 Best Practices for Physicians to Develop a Successful Sports Medicine Practice

Orthopedic practices around the country are adding sports medicine to the list of services they provide, sometimes even including the phrase in their practice name. Click to continue »

Top 5 Orthopedic Device Companies Based on 2009 Revenues

Stryker Corp. (Kalamazoo, Mich.) — $7.0 billion in revenues. Products from Stryker's Orthopaedic Implants division include artificial joints, spinal rods and screws, bone cement, artificial vertebral discs and OP-1, a biological product to grow bone. Click to continue »

DePuy Orthopaedics Recalls ASR Hip System

DePuy Orthopaedics has voluntarily recalled the ASR XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System used in hip replacement surgery due to the number of patients who required a revision surgery, according to a DePuy news release. Click to continue »

6 Key Questions to Ask When Considering an Ancillary Physical Therapy Program at Your Practice

Physical and occupational therapy services, along with athletic training, make up one of the most profitable ancillary service lines offered by orthopedic practices. Click to continue »

PRP Use for Orthopedics: Updates and Standards from AAOS

Surgical solutions using platelet rich plasma have recently begun making headway in orthopedic surgery, and physicians should have a good understanding of the how the technique works before using it, according to reports published in AAOS Now. Click to continue »

8 Statistics About Orthopedic Surgeon Compensation

Here is the median compensation for orthopedic surgeons for 2005-2008, according to the AMGA 2009 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey. Click to continue »

Healthcare Reform Act’s Impact on Orthopedic and Spine Device Companies

Hospitals, physicians and surgery centers are all preparing for the immediate impact of the Healthcare Reform Act on the healthcare industry. Click to continue »