Orthopedic devicemakers' general payments to surgeons plunged in 2020 compared to 2019 as elective surgeries and in-person visits were largely stunted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are surgeon payments for eight device companies in 2019 and 2020, according to CMS' Open Payments Database:
1. Zimmer Biomet
2019: $303.9 million
2020: $62.9 million
Percentage change: (-79.3 percent)
2. Stryker
2019: $145.3 million
2020: $74.8 million
Percentage change: (-48.5 percent)
3. DePuy Synthes
2019: $135.5 million
2020: $65.6 million
Percentage change: (-51.6 percent)
4. Medtronic
2019: $82.5 million
2020: $67 million
Percentage change: (-18.8 percent)
5. Smith+Nephew
2019: $31.8 million
2020: $33.8 million
Percentage change: (+6.3 percent)
6. NuVasive
2019: $23.1 million
2020: $16.6 million
Percentage change: (-28.1 percent)
7. Globus Medical
2019: $15.8 million
2020: $12 million
Percentage change: (-24 percent)
8. Alphatec
2019: $5.6 million
2020: $6.3 million
Percentage change: (-12.5 percent)