Read the Vertebral Columns Summer 2023 Issue In the lead article in this issue of Vertebral Columns, Kern Singh, MD, and his team highlight advancements in biomaterials and the implications for spine surgery. Additional topics include artificial intelligence and machine learning, alternatives to DEXA for lumbar bone density measurements, lumbar muscle health as it relates...
Congress Considers Legislation to Reform Physician Payment Policies Congress is currently considering legislation that would provide annual positive updates for physician services under Medicare. Introduced by a bipartisan group of physician members of Congress, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act would provide annual inflationary updates for Medicare physician services....
CMS Announces Revision to New Payment Edits for Spine Surgery The July 1, 2023, the National Correct Coding Initiative Procedure-to-Procedure (PTP) edit file for Medicare claims includes Column 1 codes 22630, 22632, 22633, and 22634 with Column 2 codes 63052 and 63053 with Correct Coding Modifier Indicator (CCMI) of 1. This means that CMS will...
National Study to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expenses The American Medical Association (AMA) is undertaking a new national study, supported by 173 healthcare organizations, including ISASS, to collect representative data on physician practice expenses. The aim of the Physician Practice Information Survey is to better understand the costs faced by today’s physician practices to...