Staff, Author at Becker’s Spine Review

Ascension Orthopedics Moves Into Foot and Ankle Market With MOVEMENT Hemi Great Toe Implant System

Ascension Orthopedics, a leader in orthopedic extremity implants, has announced the launch of the MOVEMENT Hemi Great Toe Implant System, which is intended to maintain motion for patients with painful arthritic great toe joints, according to an Ascension news release.

Baxano Names Orthopedic Surgeon to Board of Directors

Baxano, developer of the iO-Flex surgical technology, has appointed Frank M. Phillips, MD, to the company's board of directors, according to a Baxano news release.

CMS Proposes Raising Medicare Advantage Payments Next Year

CMS is proposing to raise payments Medicare Advantage payments insurers by 1.38 percent next year, according to a CMS release.

Survey: Surgeons Risk Occupational Injury From Minimally Invasive Procedures

Surgeons who perform high volumes of minimally invasive procedures report suffering various types of pain, from eye strain to hand, leg, shoulder and back pain, according to a survey of surgeons conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine…

HHS Grants $4.3B to States for Medicare Part D Costs

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $4.3 billion in funding to states to help them offset the cost of Medicare coverage for prescription drugs for state residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, according to an HHS news release.

Main Line Health Opens New Outpatient Facility, Includes Rothman Institute Orthopedics Center

Philadelphia-based Main Line Health has opened an 80,000-square-foot outpatient center in Media, Pa., according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

President Releases Proposed Health Reform Bill

President Obama has released his proposal for a health reform bill, which he will carry into a televised meeting on health reform with Democrat and Republican Congressional leaders on Thursday.

WellPoint Explains High Rate Increases for Individual Insurance

WellPoint explained why it wants to increase rates as much as 39 percent for individual insurance at its California subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross, in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Chief Impetus for Medicare Spending Moved From Inpatient to Outpatient Care

The chief impetus of Medicare spending from 1987-2006 moved from inpatient hospital services to outpatient treatment of chronic conditions, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

Federal Workgroup Shows Interest in Loosening Meaningful Use Rules

A federal workgroup has shown interest in giving hospitals and physicians greater flexibility in meeting CMS' proposed rule on meaningful use standards to qualify for electronic health record incentive payments, according to a report by AHA News Now.