Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for June 7, 2018.
Riverside Spine & Pain Physicians settles $1.2M False Claims Act lawsuit
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Riverside Spine & Pain Physicians settled a federal lawsuit, Daily Record reports. The pain management practice will pay $1.2 million for the federal charges of violating the False Claims Act. The case involved charges that the practice purposefully billed the government for medically unnecessary urine drug tests. Read more, here.
Tricare updates coverage to include lumbar total disc replacement after 2017 meeting with Aesculap Implant Systems
Tricare now covers lumbar artificial disc replacements with Aesculap Implant Systems' activL Artificial Disc for active duty and retired military personnel and their families. Aesculap Implant Systems met with the U.S. Defense Health Agency in late 2017 to discuss long-term evidence in support of lumbar total disc replacement for single-level degenerative disc disease. Read more about the process, here.
Medtronic aims to achieve 80% free cash flow, return 50%+ to investors
Medtronic unveiled its strategic growth roadmap for creating long-term shareholder value at the 2018 Medtronic Institutional Investor and Analyst Day in New York City. Among its goals, the company hopes to achieve 80 percent free cash flow conversion over the next two to three years and return a minimum of 50 percent of free cash flow to shareholders. Read more about the company's strategic plan, here.
Opioid prescribing drops 22.2% between 2013 and 2017
The American Medical Association released a new report on the state of the opioid epidemic, revealing between 2013 and 2017, opioid prescribing decreased 22.2 percent. The report also found a boost in the use of state prescription drug monitoring programs, and an increase in the number of physicians trained and certified in treating patients with an opioid use disorder.
Cleveland Clinic Florida receives $6M commitment to advance orthopedic surgery
Charlottesville, Va., couple Amy and David Krohn committed $6 million to Weston-based Cleveland Clinic Florida to further orthopedic surgery research and innovation. The Krohns plan to dispense the $6 million commitment over their lifetimes. The initial $2 million donation will go toward research and the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Center.
Medical device makers 'shocked and disappointed' by Trump's proposed $50B tariffs
Last month, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on about $50 billion worth of goods imported from China. With the final list of affected imports set to be announced by June 15, U.S. medical device industry representatives are holding their breath. Medical device and technology products make up $5 billion of the imported goods facing tariffs. Many of them are made by U.S. companies, Greg Crist, executive vice president of public affairs at trade group AdvaMed, told Medical Design and Outsourcing. Read more, here.
Medicrea earns world's 1st FDA approval for patient-specific cages
Medicrea received FDA clearance for its patient-specific spinal cages using its UNiD technology. This is the first time a patient-specific spinal cage won FDA approval. Medicrea designed the 3D printed titanium devices using its IB3D predictive analytics model.
Safe Orthopaedics acquires Qspine's sales force
Safe Orthopaedics unveiled a deal to acquire Qspine's sales force. Qspine, which distributes medical equipment for spine surgery, has served as Safe Orthopaedics' U.K. distributor since 2014. Safe Orthopaedics plans to boost commercial resources and marketing in the U.K.