Here are seven things for spinal surgeons to know for February 13, 2013.
1. Spine surgeon reimbursement: patients perception inaccurate
A recent examination of 103 orthopedic spine patients examined how patients view spine surgeon reimbursement. Researchers found that 62 percent of the patients undergoing minor procedures thought reimbursement was $5,000 to $10,000 when in actuality Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield compensated all of the minor procedures at less than $2,500. Also, 71.8 percent did not believe that insurance coverage influenced the decisions their spine surgeons made.
2. UCLA researchers received a $6 million grant for spinal cord injury research
Researchers Daniel Lu, MD, and Reggie Edgerton, MD, received the grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and they will focus their study on restoring hand function to patients paralyzed from the neck down.
3. CMS will accept only the new 1500 claim forms April 1 onwards
The agency will accept both paper and electronic versions of the new 1500 form, known as "version 02/12." The new form distinguishes between the ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis code sets and allows users to add up to 12 codes, rather than the current four code limit.
4. An AMA study has found that ICD-10 implementation will cost physician practices more than $200,000
The new study predicts that costs incurred for small practices will be $56,639 to $226,105; medium sized practice will be $213,364 to $824,735; and large practice will be $2 million to $8 million. Practices will also incur costs for software upgrades, training staff, practice assessments and testing, and will face payment disruption and loss of physician productivity during the switch.
5. Amedica has announced IPO
Amedica will offer 3,500,000 shares at $5.75 per share for its initial public offering on the NASDAQ Capital Market. It has begun trading as of Feb. 13 under the ticker symbol "AMDA."
6. Health Care Services Corporation will reimburse for MiMedx's EpiFix allograft
Approved reimbursement uses for MiMedx's device include wound care, soft tissue replacement as in burn repair, cardiovascular applications, treatment and ocular surfaces and surgical barrier application in knee and spine surgeries.
7. Spine Team Texas added Leonard Kibuule, MD, as a partner
Dr. Kibuule focuses on lumbar spinal stenosis, cervical disc arthroplasty and surgical approaches to the thoracic spine. He has completed a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
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