CMS on July 19 proposed a number of changes that would have a significant effect on outpatient orthopedics next year.

Yogish Kamath, MD, opened a brain and spine surgery center in a former emergency care clinic in Wichita Falls, Texas, Wichita Falls Times Record News reported July 23.

A group of 29 orthopedic surgeons received approval July 22 for a proposed 24-bed orthopedic surgical hospital in Delray Beach, Fla., The Palm Beach Post reported.

Halting the elimination of CMS' inpatient-only list and returning the 298 musculoskeletal services to the list are two of the most notable changes proposed by the agency this week.

Pensacola, Fla.-based Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center is expanding to Florida through a partnership with Flagler Health+ in St. Augustine.

Rancho Mirage, Calif.-based Eisenhower Health added it's fourth Mako robot, something only four other hospitals have done.

Flowood, Miss.-based Zavation Medical Products was sold to a new private-equity firm, according to a July 22 news release.

A facet arthroplasty system was found to be more beneficial and cost-effective than traditional spinal fusions, according to a July 22 news release from Premia Spine.

NuVasive has launched its Modulus anterior lateral interbody fusion implant, the company announced July 22. 

From the growth of robotic technology to the increasing role artificial intelligence and machine learning will play in spine,  bold predictions about the future of the specialty are shared by two surgeons.

Three physicians affiliated with Rockville, MD.-based National Spine & Pain Centers have been named as defendants in a $3.5 million kickback scheme that allegedly ordered unnecessary genetic tests for Medicare and Medicaid patients, The Orange County Register reported July 21.

Gainesville, Fla.-based Orthopedic Care Partners has added an Arizona-based multispecialty orthopedic practice to its platform.

ASC administrators are dismayed by CMS' proposal to bump 298 musculoskeletal-related procedures back to its inpatient-only list next year.

Johnson & Johnson's orthopedics second-quarter sales increased 53.4 percent to $2.2 billion year over year with the company's spine sales seeing a return to global growth.

Charles Park, MD, PhD, has started using a new minimally invasive spine surgery method to treat lower back and leg pain.

Pressure is mounting against plans for an orthopedic hospital in Delray Beach, Fla., and Palm Beach County commissioners are set to vote on it July 22.

Stryker has released total knee replacement data on a Colorado orthopedic surgeon that shows how he is outperforming peers using the Mako robot, The Daily Sentinel reported July 21.

Thomas Obermeyer, of Barrington Orthopedic Specialists in Schaumburg, Ill., is following the evolution of outpatient surgery, value-based care and consolidation in orthopedics.

Over the last 30 years, minimally invasive technology has developed rapidly in spine surgery, with many technologies demonstrating significant clinical advantages, but others promising more than they could deliver and largely falling by the wayside.

A surgeon debuts Nexxt Spine's new implant and four more updates from spine and orthopedic device companies in the last week: