Should Spine Surgeons Seek Out Co-Management Agreements?

Co-management agreements are increasing in popularity as the healthcare industry shifts to a value-based environment. Two spine surgeons discuss what physicians can gain from these arrangements.

Question: How much can I make from co-management?

Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I believe that seeing patients in clinical follow-up or non-operative situations is very reasonable and can be sustaining. Forming a close network with referring doctors, such as PM&R specialists, pain doctors or even chiropractors can maximize patient care and prevent fall out or losing the patient altogether. Whether we like it or not, we are just not making as much money in the operating room as we have been, and we will continue to see that number fall.

Paul J. Slosar, MD, President, SpineCare Medical Group, Daly City, Calif.: Co-management contracts vary in terms of how much money a surgeon can expect to make when partnering with a hospital. These deals can be a good starting point to share in the savings that the doctor and institution realize together, but if they are not structured very carefully the surgeons can be boxed into a corner. These agreements were very popular a few years ago, but may be slowly replaced by the bundled payment arrangements emerging recently.

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