Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1538336
14 ORTHOPEDICS Top orthopedic residency programs in 2025: Doximity By Carly Behm Here are the top four orthopedic residency programs, from Doximity's 2025-2026 Residency Navigator. Note: Rankings are as of July 15, 2025. 1. Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell Medical Center (New York City) Size: 45 residents 2. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester, Minn.) Size: 65 residents 3. NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Orthopedic Hospital (New York City) Size: 70 residents 4. Washington University (St. Louis) Size: 40 residents n CMS to add prior authorization for spine procedures in traditional Medicare By Carly Behm S ome fee-for-service spine procedures in traditional Medicare will have prior authorizations added, according to CMS' new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model. CMS is partnering with AI and machine learning companies to test ways to implement an expedited prior authorization process for some Medicare services including spine and orthopedic services. Seventeen services will be targeted, including ones CMS says are vulnerable to fraud, waste and inappropriate use. They include epidural steroid injections for pain management, cervical spinal fusion, percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression for spinal stenosis and percutaneous vertebral augmentation for vertebral compression fracture. Arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis will also be affected . WISeR will run from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec, 31, 2031, and the model will begin with providers in Arizona, Washington, New Jersey, Texas and Oklahoma. It doesn't alter Medicare coverage or payment rules, and doesn't affect Medicare Advantage plans. n