Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion costs significantly less when performed in ASCs than the hospital setting for Medicare and privately insured patients, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 edition of Spine.

Tulsa (Okla.) Spine & Specialty Hospital was one of the 132 hospitals earning Leapfrog's 2023 Top Hospitals award.

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System opened its Spine Center on Dec. 4, according to an announcement in VolumeOne.

Spine and orthopedics have been a gold mine for ASCs in the last few years as technology advances and procedures continue to be approved for the outpatient setting. 

Here are three updates in spine and orthopedic federal cases from the last month:

OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, Ill. is opening a pain and spine center, the health system said Nov. 30.

Medicare Advantage has been controversial this year with several major health systems dropping plan coverage due to denials, and some physicians following suit.

Rapid City, S.D.-based the Spine Center at Black Hills Orthopedics has added two physical and sports medicine specialists, Christopher Dietrich, MD, and Trevor Anderson, MD. 

Here are five spine surgeons moving to new practices or adding to their titles in November:

Livonia-based Trinity Health Michigan opened the Trinity Health Neuroscience Center in Muskegon, Mich., according to a Nov. 30 announcement in the Grand Haven Tribune.

Spine surgeons in 2023 have been exploring ways to innovate and learn through a variety of research. Here's what four surgeons are working on:

Becker's has recently reported on five physicians who are on the cutting edge of spine surgery, from being the first to use specific devices to being appointed as endowed chairs at major universities.

Burnsville, Minn.-based Inspired Spine has established two Centers of Excellence in rural areas of Kansas and Minnesota that specialize in providing complex spine care for patients with a high body mass index. 

St. Louis-based Physicians Pain Services added the Intracept procedure, according to a Nov. 29 news release.

GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are rising in popularity and evidence suggests their possible effectiveness for helping patients lose weight.

Singer and songwriter Ozzy Osbourne revealed his struggles post-spine surgery in an interview with Rolling Stone UK, published online Nov. 26.

Pyam Toobian, MD, a Kings Point, N.Y.-based physician, was found guilty of a kickback scheme providing gift cards in exchange for patient referrals, according to a press release from the New York State Attorney General.

The spine surgery industry has seen major shifts in recent years. Here are three areas to watch.

Camber Spine, a company known for its minimally invasive spine devices and commercialized products, hastapped Brooks McAdam as its new CEO. 

Surgeons at Birmingham, Ala.-based Andrews Sports Medicine have operated on four World Wrestling Entertainment stars in 2023, including John Cena and Robert Roode.