6 Things for Spine Surgeons to Know for Thursday

Here are six things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday, July 25, 2013. Medical device tax cost industry $1B since Jan. 1.
The 2.3 percent medical device excise tax has cost the industry an estimated $1 billion since going into effect Jan. 1. Device manufactures are losing an average of $194 million per month, as the tax comes off of all profits.

AAOS leaders to discuss SGR, ancillaries & ICD-10 with Congressional members.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons President Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, and other select leaders of the organization will meet with Congressional offices to educate members of congress on critical orthopedic issues. The group plans to touch on the sustainable growth rate replacement legislation, protecting patient rights in integrated care and the Cutting Costly Codes Act of 2013, as well as repealing the 27 percent physician payment cut in the SGR formula.

Stryker net earnings dip 34.5% in Q2 from device recall costs.
Stryker's net earnings dropped 34.5 percent in the second quarter, despite increased sales over the same period last year. The drop was due largely to a $170 million charge from the voluntary recalls of the Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems.

Minimally invasive SpineCARE opens new clinics in Texas.
Irving, Texas-based Minimally Invasive SpineCARE announced that it is opening a new clinic in Joshua, Texas. The spine center also recently opened new locations in Burleson, Texas, and in Arlington, Texas.

Report: 43% of physicians order more tests for new patients.
Around 43 percent of physicians surveyed for a recent JAMA report said they order more tests if they don't know the patient well. More than half said uncertainty and worry about malpractice liability play a role in their practice. The study found that a greater worry about malpractice and lower comfort with uncertainty were associated with lower average cost-consciousness scores.

Australian government warns Stryker's Oasys Midline Occipital Plate could break after surgery.
Australia's Department of Health and Aging issued a hazard alert for Stryker Australia's Oasys Midline Occipital Plate, a device used for spine fusion stabilization. After surgery, a piece of the plate can break and result in destabilization and possibly require revision surgery. No root cause has been determined. Stryker is investigating reported cased in the U.S. and Belgium.

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