Spine

Patient Preferred Physicians and Practitioners, a society of highly referred providers, has named Steven DeLuca, DO, a "patient preferred orthopedic surgeon" for the state of Pennsylvania in 2021.

Spinal neurosurgeon Oren Gottfried, MD, has used his medical expertise to pitch and write an upcoming episode of The Good Doctor, ABC11 reports.

The Colorado Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a woman who was billed $229,112 by Westminster-based St. Anthony North Health Campus for a 2014 spine surgery, Colorado Politics reports.

Prior authorization remains a key focus for the North American Spine Society's advocacy efforts this year. The organization also has its eyes on enhancing a bill to protect patients from surprise medical billing.

Harvinder Sandhu, MD, co-chief of New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery Spine, has been selected to direct the augmented reality spine surgery program at Stamford (Conn.) Health's Bennett Medical Center.

The widespread adoption of endoscopic spine surgery in the U.S. has been stunted by a lack of training and inadequate reimbursement. 

Last year was an evolutionary one for healthcare, with the widespread adoption of telehealth providing patients with access to providers at their fingertips.

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Los Robles Health System is now offering endoscopic spine surgery thanks to Armen Oganesian, DO, Thousand Oaks Acorn reported April 15.

Jessica Jameson, MD, interventional pain physician and founding partner of Axis Spine Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, has been nominated for a seat on the Panhandle District Board of Health, KREM reports.

Prior authorization is a contentious issue in spine care at the moment. Beginning July 1, CMS will require the policy for cervical fusion with disc removal and implanted spinal neurostimulators, which physicians say will further limit access to care.