News and noteworthy information for November: CPT® Editorial Summary of Panel Actions 2016 Final Physician Fee Schedule 2016 Hospital Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule AMA Urges DOJ…

…health care in our rural communities. Specifically, the CHART Model will: Increase financial stability for rural health care providers through multiple new funding approaches, including the use of up-front…

…22854 (Insertion of intervertebral biomechanical device(s) (eg, synthetic cage, mesh) with integral anterior instrumentation for device anchoring (eg, screws, flanges), when performed, to vertebral corpectomy(ies) (vertebral body resection, partial…

…new surgical spine codes set to take effect January 1, 2017:   Code Descriptor 22853 Insertion of interbody biomechanical device(s) (eg, synthetic cage, mesh) with integral anterior instrumentation for…

…all good nights should!—with a glass of wine and several Spine Talks from luminaries like Ali Araghi and Matthew Scott-Young. Another beautiful and educational day down, but we’re not…

…ISASS Coding & Reimbursement Task Force continues to evaluate policies that may be detrimental to optimal patient care, and that may unnecessarily or punitively reduce physician reimbursement. Under the…

…from a superficial swab, can be an obvious reason for a false negative. Even in the case of a technically well-procured nasopharyngeal sample, it is important to understand the…

…on Wednesday. Royal 7 – Nuvasive A Novel Technology to Reduce Radiation Exposure in Spine Surgery Rob Issacs, MD Royal 8 – Allen Medical Systems Lateral Approaches to Spine…

…ACOs; and the first set of individual health care professional performance scores on preventative care, cardiovascular care and patient safety measures. This data was used to update the quality…

…Coverage Jay Hancock with Kaiser Health News reports that after Federal regulators last year said so-called “skinny plans” without inpatient hospital benefits were not compliant with the Affordable Care…

…the procedure. The bill also amends the “Health Care Quality Act” by adding to the current policies governing when a health insurance carrier can remove a health care provider…

…response times (24 hours for urgent care, 48 hours for nonurgent care). Allow adverse determinations only by a physician licensed in the state and of the same specialty that…