The U.S. Congress has major influence in healthcare, from determining physician payments to making laws regulating who can own healthcare facilities. 

At the beginning of October, Tolland, Conn.-based Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, with locations in Manchester, Conn., entered into a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, dozens of healthcare facilities in the state are shuttering as residents prepare to evacuate. 

Multiple health systems and practices are investing millions into upcoming spine and orthopedic facilities in 2024.

Here are nine Midwest orthopedic and spine practices that added new clinicians in September: 

W. Travis Stoll, MD, a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, has joined Golden, Colo.-based Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, according to an Oct. 4 LinkedIn post.

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health orthopedic surgeon Nathan Skelley, MD, recently won the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' Orthopaedic Video Theater competition for a 25-minute video showcasing a hip arthroscopy surgical technique developed at the Sanford USD Medical Center.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has been named the top facility for pediatric orthopedic care in 2024 by U.S. News & World Report.

Here are eight orthopedic practices relocating sites of care in 2024: 

The direction of orthopedic ASCs is starting to trend back toward independence and increased physician control, Benjamin Stein, MD, said.

Beginning Sept. 1, UnitedHealthcare began requiring prior authorization for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and Medicare-covered chiropractic services delivered in multidisciplinary offices and outpatient hospital settings. 

Medical device company OrthAlign has earned FDA clearance for its Lantern Hip handheld technology for direct anterior total hip arthroplasty.

Clarksville, Tenn.-based Premier Medical Group is opening a new sports medicine department that will be led by Chae Ko, MD, an experienced sports medicine physician, according to an Oct. 3 report from ClarksvilleNow.com.

Orthopedic surgeons are among specialties with the highest average pay, but that figure and physician satisfaction can vary across settings and age.

Chico, Calif.-based Cascade Orthopedic Supply, a distributor of orthotics, prosthetics, materials and equipment, has become an independently owned company after finalizing a deal with orthotics and prosthetics provider Ottobock, according to an Oct. 3 report from HME News.

Martinsburg-based Pain Center of West Virginia has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve false claim allegations. 

Globus Medical continues to grow and expand its orthopedic trauma product portfolio with a new wave of FDA clearances. 

Tolland, Conn.-based Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, which also has locations in Manchester, Conn., has entered into a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to an Oct. 2 report from Fox affiliate WTIC Hartford.

Multiple orthopedic surgeons moved to new practices or added to their titles in September.

Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster (Pa.) added an interventional pain physician and a total joint replacement surgeon, according to an Oct. 2 email shared with Becker's.