Spine surgeons' next payer
battle
Spine surgeons saw a major victory in a
yearslong payer battle when Aetna revised
its lumbar disc replacement policy in
February. Now, some surgeons are looking
ahead to the next hurdle they could face
from insurers.
Employment vs. private
practice: Factors influencing
spine surgeons' decisions
Spine and orthopedic surgeons' decisions
on where to practice is a consequential
one whether they go to a hospital or a
private group. Amid economic headwinds
and workforce challenges in healthcare,
the choice holds more weight than ever.
continued on page 7
continued on page 14
continued on page 6
Will Ozempic alter spine,
orthopedic fields?
GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are rising in
popularity and evidence suggests their possible effectiveness
for helping patients lose weight. The trend could alter
projections for orthopedic surgery differently in the short and
long term.
25+
STORIES INSIDE
Do spine patients prefer hospitals or ASCs? p. 6
14
TH
ANNUAL MEETING
April 8-11, 2024 | Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL
April 16-18, 2024 | Virtual Event
SAVE THE DATE
IN THIS ISSUE:
Where can spine
surgeons reduce
costs?
p. 10
What the orthopedic
surgery landscape will
look like in 10 years
p. 12
Cervical disc
replacements
plateaued
p. 7
ASC execs are bullish
on growth. Here are
5 strategies on their
radar
p. 18
Walmart: Friend or foe
to hospitals?
p. 23
January 2024 • Vol. 2024 No. 1
