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We are entering a new era as reviewers at insurance carriers require more evidence before approving spinal procedures. One reviewer, Gaetano Scuderi, M.D., has some lessons for his colleagues on navigating this new environment. Read them here.
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Can orthopedics innovate out of today’s reimbursement, pricing and regulatory malaise? If the culture of innovation we saw among the Israeli medical technology companies is any indication, the answer is “yes.” But it could be ego bruising to today’s industry leadership.
Photographer / Wikimedia Commons
Providers and manufacturers who want the clearest “picture” of the total economic costs of orthopedic devices and procedures, now have a tool to measure the cost effectiveness of their work. See the presentation from the folks at Zimmer that won a “Best of Category” award at AAOS.
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The health care reform bill will make everybody a winner. So says Bill Frist, cardiologist, hospital owner, and former leader of Republicans in the U.S. Senate. But, what does he know? It also means more patients, more units sold, longer wait times and more Sunshine. We have the key orthopedic issues here.
Rosie the Riveter / Wikimedia & RRY Publications
NASS jumped into the XLIF reimbursement fray by telling insurance carriers that the procedure was not experimental or investigational. As in the vertebroplasty situation, the Society defended its position as the authoritative voice for defining high quality, evidence-based spine care. Read their rationale here.
Fire Fighting / Wikimedia Commons
NuVasive fights back and says there are no coding or reimbursement issues for its XLIF procedure. But questions about future reimbursements and a slew of short sales have cut the company’s market cap by almost $600 million in the last two months. Read what company CEO Lukianov told analysts on November 30.
Zebra Eco Pen / Wikimedia
Cigna is about to review its previous coverage decision that said NuVasive’s XLIF was “unproven.” Their review is being watched to see if other carriers will follow suit and whether or not another effort will be made to create a new CPT code for the procedure.
Regenerative Medicine: Re-Growing Body Parts
MAKOplasty Robotic Knee Surgery
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