A total of 3,454 physicians performed "a measurable number" of low-value spine surgeries, and in that time they received a total $64 million from device and drug companies, the Lown Institute found.
The Lown Institute used data from CMS Open Payments and analysis by Conflixis in their Nov. 14 report. Common reasons for payments included consulting and speaking fees, travel and other gifts.
The report also found that between 2019 and 2021, more than 200,000 unnecessary spine surgeries cost Medicare an estimated $2 billion. On average, 14% of spinal fusions and/or laminectomies were considered unnecessary, and an average 11% of patient visits for osteoporotic fractures led to an unnecessary vertebroplasty.
Here are the top 10 companies providing industry payments to spine surgeons including the number of payments and totals from 2020 through 2022.
Nuvasive: 10,122 payments, $8 million
Medtronic: 21,229 payments, $7.5 million
Stryker: 13,568 payments, $7.3 million
Globus Medical: 4,878 payments, $3.5 million
Alphatec Spine: 4,165 payments, $3.5 million
Medtronic USA: 7,203 payments, $3 million
Medical Device Business Services: 1,612 payments, $2.3 million
Si-Bone: 4,397 payments, $1.4 million
Seaspine: 2,172 payments, $1.4 million
Innovasis: 476 payments, $1.3 million