A second term under President-elect Donald Trump has a broad range of implications for the direction of healthcare policy and spine care.
Two spine surgeons share the changes they're anticipating in the years ahead.
Question: What does a second Trump presidency mean for spine surgery and practice management?
Harel Deutsch, MD. Rush Spine Center (Chicago): The Affordable Care Act resulted in increased regulation and complexity that resulted in more physicians working in an employed market. The last few years has seen the increased prevalence of medicare advantage plans. I forsee that in a second Trump presidency, Medicare advantage plans will increase and therefore further restrictions or denials for spine surgery.
Brian Fiani, DO. Spine surgeon. (Birmingham, Mich.): A second Trump presidency could have various implications for spine surgery and practice management, particularly in terms of healthcare policy and regulations. If previous policies are reinstated, we might see changes in reimbursement models, which could affect how spine surgeries are funded and managed. Additionally, there may be a push for more deregulation, potentially impacting quality control and reporting requirements in surgical practices.
However, it's also important to consider the potential for increased focus on specific healthcare issues, such as opioid management and pain management strategies following surgery, which could shape practice protocols and patient care standards in the spine surgery field. Overall, the exact impact would depend on legislative priorities and the political climate at the time.