Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for April 30, 2015.
NuVasive to pay $13.8M in OIG agreement
NuVasive reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice related to the subpoena for from the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services issued in 2013. NuVasive does not anticipate entering into a corporate integrity agreement with the OIG related to the settlement.
Drs. Rebecca Barrett-Tuck, Christian Reparon perform 1st Aurora Spine ZIP interspinous procedures
The ZIP 51 system is designed for a rigid stabilization with bone graft at the L5-S1 level as a distinctive sacral fusion option. The first procedure in the United States was performed at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark., by Rebecca Barrett-Tuck, MD. The first procedure in Germany was performed by Dr. Christian Reparon.
Drs. Suken Shah, Alpesh Patel embark on ABC Traveling Fellowship
The fellowship is sponsored by the American Orthopaedic Association. Spine surgeons Suken Shah, MD, and Alpesh Patel, MD, along with three orthopedic surgeons will participate in the traveling fellowship.
Dr. Ted Wagner to provide medical aid in Nepal
Ted Wagner, MD, is heading to Nepal to help provide medical aid to those affected by the devastating earthquake that has left more than 4,000 people dead. Dr. Wagner is an orthopedic spine surgeon and clinical professor at UW Medicine Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Seattle.
Global orthopedic trauma market to reach $9.4B in 2020
The market was valued at $5.7 billion in 2013. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 percent from 2014 to 2020. The market is seeing significant growth due to an increase in incidences of fracture cases and the raising number of participants in sports.
Can a new peptide promote lumbar spinal fusion?
A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines a new peptide to promote lumbar spinal fusion. Researchers found that the patients who received the B2A peptide-enhanced ceramic granules had radiographic fusion rates of 100 or 50 percent.
Patient deductibles up 7% last year
The increasing out-of-pocket costs are no longer an anecdotal observation for physicians; a new TransUnion Healthcare report shows the costs are rising significantly with clear consequences. Patient deductible increased nearly 7 percent last year and out-of-pocket costs for patients were up 11 percent.
PQRS participation increases, but nearly 470k will be penalized
CMS saw a 47 percent increase in participation in the Physician Quality Reporting System from 2012 to 2013. However, in 2013, 469,755 eligible professionals were subject to a PQRS negative payment adjustment of 1.5 percent of their 2015 Part B Medicare Fee Schedule allowed charges.