Spine

Spine procedures have seen some of the most rapid growth in the outpatient setting in the last five years, according to a March report from commercial real estate company JLL.  Outpatient spine cases have increased just over 3% in the…

Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health’s motion to dismiss a whistleblower lawsuit over alleged unnecessary spine surgeries was denied, according to an order filed March 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. The health system sought to…

Neurological spine surgeon David Yam, MD, has joined the Spine Center at Prosser Memorial Health in Walla Walla, Wash. The newly opened center is intended to save patients from having to travel long distances to receive care, according to a…

Medicare Advantage provider Seoul Medical Group and others are settling allegations of submitting false spinal diagnostic codes to increase payments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a March 26 news release. According to federal prosecutors, from 2015 to 2021, Min…

Spine surgeons currently face some of the highest malpractice risks of any physician specialty, but one Minnesota-based company is trying to change that.  The inFormed Consent app was created by Dan Kloster, MD, a chronic pain management specialist, with the…

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company has been approved to proceed with its lawsuit against Spine Centers of America, alleging the company participated in a $3 million patient-brokering scheme, according to a March 26 report from Insurance Business Magazine. A…

Patient accessibility to healthcare is a persistent challenge, and spine surgeons are using multiple strategies to manage it. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues…

Neurosurgeon Alan Chiang, MD, has joined the board of directors for clinical-stage medical biotechnology company NeOnc Technologies Holdings.  Dr. Chiang has expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, brain tumor treatment and biotechnology innovation, according to a March 25 news release. …

Grand Island, Neb.-based CHI Health Clinic Neurosurgery added neurosurgeon Lynn Mubita, MD, KGFW reported March 25.  Dr. Mubita’s expertise includes degenerative spinal diseases, brain and spine infections and other congenital anomalies.  She earned her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical…

Spine surgeons performed a rare case on a 9-month-old baby at Indianapolis-based Riley Hospital for Children, Fox 59 reported March 24. The baby girl had congenital vertebral dislocation, a spinal curvature affecting her other organs, the report said. Pediatric orthopedic…