Becker's Spine Review

42 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 3 orthopedic groups combine to form OrthoSouth By Angie Stewart T hree orthopedic groups in Memphis, Tenn., joined forces to form OrthoSouth, according to the Daily Memphian. Three highlights: 1. OrthoSouth is the combined entity of Memphis Orthopaedic Group, OrthoMemphis and Tabor Orthopedics. 2. The new orthopedic brand comprises 35 physicians, 44 physical therapists, seven clinics, two MRI suites and two outpatient surgery centers. 3. OrthoSouth aims to focus on the patient experience in orthopedic care. n CHI Franciscan settles antitrust suit after orthopedic group acquisition, physician network affiliation: 4 key notes By Laura Dyrda C ourt records indicate Tacoma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan and two physician groups, including an orthopedic practice, settled a lawsuit the state of Washington filed against them, alleging antitrust violations, according to a Kitsap Sun report. Four things to know: 1. The office of the state's attorney general said both sides reached a settlement agreement in principle, but have not released details about the agreement. 2. Under the settlement, CHI Franciscan will continue to affiliate with the two physician groups: Silverdale, Wash.-based WestSoundOrtho- paedics and The Doctor's Clinic, a physician network serving patients across Kitsap, Wash. 3. CHI Franciscan originally acquired WestSoundOrthopaedics in July 2016 and two months later signed a professional service agreement with The Doctor's Clinic. The state filed a complaint in August 2017, alleging the affiliations limited competition and could violate antitrust laws. 4. The state also alleged the acquisition of WestSound was an illegal, anticompetitive deal. However, on March 1, the judge filed an order saying the state didn't support its claim that CHI's acquisition of two physician groups "hurt competition." n Humana launches bundled payment for spinal fusions at 4 practices, expands joint replacement program — 6 insights By Eric Oliver H umana expanded its value-based orthopedic care program by offering Humana Medicare Advantage members access to bundled pay- ments for spinal fusion surgery. What you should know: 1. e Spinal Fusion Episode-Based Model will offer physicians additional payments based on patient out- comes and cost across the episode-of-care. Humana measures outcome improvement by weighing read- missions, cervical complications and lumbar com- plications. e payer compares that figure to average risk-adjusted episodic cost-of-care. 2. Humana also expanded its total joint replacement bundle program by entering into agreements with eight more orthopedic groups across the U.S. 3. e total joint bundle is offered at more than 60 practices in 19 states. Humana launched its spinal fusion bundle with four practices: Fort Wayne (Ind.) Orthopedics, Fort Wayne-based Ortho NorthEast, Cincinnati-based Mayfield Brain & Spine and Ortho- Virginia with locations in Lynchburg, Richmond and northern Virginia. 4. Since Humana launched the total joint replacement bundle in 2016, it has expanded its reach on a yearly basis. 5. Humana has three value-based bundled payment of- ferings in total, the aforementioned two in orthopedics and a maternity episode-based model. 6. Humana's President of Value-Based Strategies Orga- nization Oraida Roman said, "We're excited to focus on spinal fusion surgery with our newest orthopedic episode-of-care model. is program is a logical 'next step' for us in value-based care." n

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