Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1344616
72 ORTHOPEDICS Ascension St. John, Encompass Health plan 2nd joint venture spinal cord injury facility By Alan Condon B irmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health and Detroit-based As- cension St. John plan to build a second joint venture rehabilitation hospital in Owasso, Okla., Tulsa World reported Feb. 8. The proposed 40-bed facility will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies, as well as 24-hour nursing care. The hospital will treat patients suffering from spinal cord injuries, strokes, brain injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Ascension and Encompass' first joint venture, Broken Arrow (Okla.) Hos- pital, opened in 2016. n Texas spine clinic to pay $330,898 to settle improper billing claims By Alan Condon L ongview-based Spinal Decompression Clinic of Texas agreed to pay CMS $330,898 to settle False Claims Act allegations related to the implantation of neurostimulators, according to a January U.S. Department of Justice. During a 10-month period, the clinic billed CMS for the implantation of 41 P-Stim devices, an electroacupuncture system typically implanted through surgery. But the clinic implanted the devices in an office setting without surgery or anesthesia. CMS reimbursed the practice $177,051 for the procedures. However, Medicare does not reimburse for acupuncture devices such as P-Stim, nor does it reimburse for P-Stim as a neurostimulator. "Falsely submitting claims for non-covered services robs from the Medi- care program and thereby deprives those in need from vital resources," said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox said, according to the report. "Re- covery of improperly paid reimbursements is critical to the long-term sustainability of the Medicare program, and we will do everything we can to ensure that any false claim is quickly recovered." n 50-surgeon group plans clinic with spine surgery By Alan Condon S ummit Orthopedics, a 50-surgeon practice in Woodbury, Minn., plans to develop a 25,000-square-foot clinic in Lakeville, Minn., local news publication Sun Thisweek reported Feb. 9. The facility will provide subspecialty spine, orthopedic and sports care. It will also have an urgent care clinic and a pro- cedure suite for regenerative medicine, imaging and physical therapy. Construction is expected to begin in mid- to late spring, with opening slated for January 2022. Summit Orthopedics has more than 800 staff and 25 locations, including three ASCs. n $60M spine and orthopedic tower opens at Florida hospital By Alan Condon A ventura (Fla.) Hospital and Medical Center has opened a 90,000-square foot tower that houses its Orthopedic & Spine Institute, Miami's Community Newspapers reported Feb. 8. The expansion was a $60 million invest- ment by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and HCA East Florida. The three-story tower added 60 beds to Aventura Hospital's capacity. The hospital also plans to expand the tower by seven floors. n