Becker's Spine Review

11 SPINE Number of orthopedic surgeons in all 50 states — California has 2,406 By Alan Condon A lmost 23,000 orthopedic surgeons practice in the U.S., according to Definitive Healthcare's PhysicianView, which includes data on more than 2 million physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the U.S. California is the state with the most orthopedic surgeons, while Vermont is the state with the fewest. Here's how many orthopedic surgeons are practicing in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.: Alabama: 347 Alaska: 69 Arizona: 442 Arkansas: 178 California: 2,406 Colorado: 48 1 Connecticut: 331 Delaware: 73 Florida: 1,406 Georgia: 668 Hawaii: 85 Idaho: 163 Illinois: 831 Indiana: 474 Iowa: 208 Kansas: 222 Kentucky: 316 Louisiana: 351 Maine: 115 Maryland: 497 Massachusetts: 583 Michigan: 713 Minnesota: 522 Mississippi: 178 Missouri: 453 Montana: 111 Nebraska: 165 Nevada: 179 New Hampshire: 156 New Jersey: 680 New Mexico: 116 New York: 1,415 North Carolina: 732 North Dakota: 59 Ohio: 902 Oklahoma: 256 Oregon: 294 Pennsylvania: 995 Rhode Island: 99 South Carolina: 347 South Dakota: 88 Tennessee: 508 Texas: 1,621 Utah: 240 Vermont: 54 Virginia: 548 Washington: 549 Washington, D.C.: 58 West Virginia: 121 Wisconsin: 472 Wyoming: 63 n Orthopedic surgeons generate $3.3M in hospital revenue per year By Alan Condon T he average orthopedic surgeon generates $3.3 mil- lion a year in hospital revenue, according to Merritt Hawkins' 2022 "Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives." Here are the five specialists that generate the highest an- nual revenue, according to Merrit Hawkins: 1. Cardiology (interventional): $3.5 million 2. Orthopedic surgery: $3.3 million 3. Gastroenterology: $2.9 million 4. Family medicine: $2.1 million 5. OB/GYN: $2 million Editor's note: The report is based on responses from 2,695 permanent physicians and advanced practitioners and was conducted between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022. n New trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon's kickback case By Carly Behm A Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based neurosurgeon and his then-fiancee who were fined nearly $5.5 million in a kickback case will face a new False Claims Act trial after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Missouri ruled the jury that awarded damages didn't get full instructions, the Southeast Missourian reported July 27. In 2018, Sonjay Fonn, DO, and his fiancee at the time, Deborah Seeger, were convicted of submitting false claims to CMS. Dr. Fonn used implants from Ms. Seeger's spine implant distributorship, DS Medical, in most of his surgeries from 2009 to 2012, and CMS reportedly paid for 228 cases using the devices. When Dr. Fonn used DS Medical implants, Ms. Seeger reportedly received a 50 percent commission. The 8th Circuit court ruled July 26 that the jury wasn't told it had to find the anti-kickback violations influenced Dr. Fonn's decision to use the implants, the Southeast Missourian reported. Curtis O. Poore, an attorney involved in the early stages of the case, told the Southeast Missourian "the judgment was based on a jury instruction that used the wrong burden of proof (and) it appears to me the two counts dismissed were done so without prejudice — meaning they could be pursued at a retrial if the government elects to try the case again." n

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