Spine

The move to add prior authorization for some spine procedures under CMS’ new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model concerns some physicians. However Christian Zimmerman, MD, said some of these additions were a long time coming. Dr. Zimmerman, of St.…

AdventHealth Winter Garden (Fla.) earned the 2025 Blue Cross Blue Shield Spine Surgery Designation, according to a July 1 Facebook post from the hospital.   Neurosurgeon Daniel Fassett, MD, was also recognized in the hospital’s post for his work at the…

Lima (Ohio) Memorial Health System is the first provider in northwest Ohio to offer Prodisc total disc replacement, an alternative procedure to traditional spinal fusion.  The procedure is performed by Jeffrey Lobel, MD, a neurosurgeon and medical director of neurosurgery…

As payers announce plans to improve prior authorizations, two spine surgeons discuss the changes that would make the most difference for them. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical,…

Some spine procedures including spinal fusion, lumbar decompression and vertebral augmentation will need prior authorization under CMS’ new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model, a move worrying some surgeons. The CMS model is targeting 17 procedures that were identified as…

Cost-effectiveness for risk-stratified patients isn’t necessarily better than usual care for lower back pain in the military health system, according to a study in the July 15 issue of Spine. Researchers assessed usual care and risk-stratified care for low back…

Becker’s reported on three spine and orthopedic surgeons earning honors in the second quarter. 1. Ketan Bulsara, MD, earned the 2025 UConn Health Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award. Dr. Bulsara joined UConn Health in 2017 and is the inaugural…

Matt Miller, MD, performed Nebraska’s first minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery at Omaha-based OrthoNebraska Hospital, Arthrex said in a June 30 LinkedIn post.  Dr. Miller used Arthrex’s endoscopic spine tools to perform an L5-S1 discectomy with an interlaminar approach. “The…

Don Park MD, of Irvine, Calif.-based UCI Health, performed the world’s first endoscopic spinal fusion using augmented reality. Dr. Park wore an AR headset with HD endoscopic video MRI images and EMR in his field of vision, according to a June 30…

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 is partnering with AI and machine learning companies to test ways to implement an expedited prior authorization process…