Spine

The conversation surrounding orthopedic and spine practice consolidation often frames the question as who owns the practice. However, according to surgeons, what matters most is who has a voice in the decisions. Private equity often dominates the conversation about orthopedic…

CMS created three new Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Groups for extensive or complex spinal fusion procedures in its fiscal 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule and reassigned Carlsmed’s aprevo lumbar procedures to the new payment categories.  CMS finalized the…

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court’s grant of summary judgment in an age discrimination lawsuit brought by a former neurosurgeon against Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Central DuPage Physician Group, which does business as Northwestern…

Spine surgeons and neurosurgeons across the country marked new leadership roles, practice moves and surgical milestones in July. From a dean appointment at a major academic medical center to a first-in-the-nation implant procedure, the month’s moves reflected both the clinical…

Mark Barry, MD, a spine surgeon, and medtech company SeaSpine have ended their patent dispute after jointly agreeing to dismiss their claims in federal court. Dr. Barry and SeaSpine Holdings, SeaSpine Orthopedics and SeaSpine filed a joint stipulation July 29,…

Washington has finally discovered something physicians have known for years: The way Medicare determines what doctors are paid is deeply flawed. The Trump administration is scrutinizing the American Medical Association’s role in that system, including its ownership of current procedural…

CMS’ 2027 physician payment proposal reaches far beyond a 1.68% conversion factor cut.  For spine and orthopedic practices, it layers payment reductions with new compliance risks, quality reporting requirements and tighter reimbursement rules that could reshape how care is delivered.…

Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati retained The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery. The certification acknowledges healthcare organizations that meet standards for spine surgery care and is offered in collaboration with the American Academy…

Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery, neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular care, neuromodulation and AI are reshaping neurosurgery. Across the country, a new generation of neurosurgeons is driving those advances by developing new surgical approaches, expanding access to complex care and advancing clinical…

The next spine practice to sell may not be the weakest independent group. It may be the one a buyer can scale fastest. Health systems and physician-led pain and spine platforms have both acquired independent practices in 2026. Recent transactions…