Becker’s Spine Review

For years, debate around endoscopic spine surgery centered on whether the technique was ready for broad adoption. Questions about safety, durability, and outcomes dominated discussions among surgeons, payers, and policymakers. That era has passed. Today, the more pressing problem is…

From CMS developments to device coverage, here are 10 payer updates spine surgeons should know headed into 2026: 1. Some fee-for-service spine procedures in traditional Medicare will have prior authorizations added, according to CMS’ new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model. CMS…

A 24-month study of Cerapedics’ PearlMatrix P-15 peptide enhanced bone graft found it had better time-to-fusion and clinical success than a local autograft, according to a Dec. 17 news release. Five things to know: 1. The controlled IDE study included…

CHI Memorial Orthopedics, part of Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CHI Memorial Medical Group, has added Masoud Hamidian, MD. Dr. Hamidian is an orthopedic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, according to a Dec. 10 news release from CHI Memorial.  He…

Resurgeons Orthopaedics has opened a practice location in Griffin, Ga., according to a Dec. 11 report from CityBiz. The 4,900-square-foot practice is part of Griffin Crossroads, a neighborhood shopping center.  Resurgens opened the practice Dec. 8.  The organization supports more…

USA Health System’s Spine Institute in Mobile, Ala., is the first facility in a six-state region to use 3D-printed cervical spine implants, according to a Dec. 16 news release. Richard Menger, MD, chief of complex spine surgery, performed the first…

Milwaukee-based real estate firm Hammes is redeveloping a vacant department store at Brookwood Village Mall in Birmingham, Ala., into a 61,000-square-foot orthopedic clinic.  Andrews Sports Medicine, based in Birmingham, will anchor the space, which is set to open in June…

New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery has received its sixth Magnet designation for nursing excellence, more than any other hospital in New York state.  Fewer than 0.5% of hospitals nationwide have achieved the honor six times from the American…

Bettendorf, Iowa-based ORA Orthopedics and UnityPoint Health – Trinity hospitals are partnering, effective Dec. 18. ORA Orthopedics and UnityPoint Health — Trinity have more than doubled their case volumes from January to November, according to a Dec. 17 news release…

Although AI is in its infancy in healthcare, spine surgeons have found major advantages with the technology from improving imaging to administrative work.  Spine surgeons discuss what they want to do with AI in the next year. Ask Spine Surgeons…