Outpatient Spine

Advances in minimally invasive techniques, robotic technology, motion-preserving procedures and complex spinal reconstruction are transforming spine care. Across the country, orthopedic spine surgeons are driving those advances by improving patient outcomes, advancing clinical research and training the next generation of…

The first lumbar artificial disc replacement at DISC’s newest surgery center did not feel like a first to Philip Saville, MD. He had already performed the procedure in outpatient settings. The operation itself was familiar. What mattered was everything built…

Washington lawmakers advanced the most significant Medicare Advantage prior authorization reform in years this week. But as Congress moves to curb delays and denials for beneficiaries enrolled in private Medicare plans, CMS is simultaneously expanding prior authorization in traditional Medicare…

The next major failure in spine care may not begin in the operating room. It could begin when a patient in a smaller market cannot find a surgeon nearby. It could deepen when an insurer delays imaging, therapy or an…

When Paul McAfee, MD, plans a week of spine surgery, he does not do it at a console in the operating room. He does it on his phone. Every cut, every decompression, every screw trajectory, mapped from a kitchen table…

Spine surgery has historically operated under two sets of economics: one determined by the care delivered and another by the building in which it is delivered. For 2026, Medicare’s ASC conversion factor is $56.322, compared with $91.415 for hospital outpatient…

Historically, growth in spine care was relatively straightforward. Perform more procedures. Build more operating rooms. Expand access to new technologies. Increase volume. A growing number of spine leaders believe that formula is becoming outdated. At Becker’s 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic…

For decades, spine surgery has relied on some of medicine’s highest-quality research. Randomized trials. Prospective studies. Single-center investigations led by academic institutions. Those studies transformed spine care, but they also came with a limitation: They often reflected ideal conditions rather…

Neurosurgery continues to advance through innovations in brain tumor treatment, cerebrovascular care, spine surgery, functional neurosurgery and minimally invasive techniques. Across the country, a select group of neurosurgeons is helping shape the field through clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, leadership and…

Spine surgery continues to evolve through advances in minimally invasive procedures, robotic-assisted technologies, motion-preserving treatments and complex deformity correction. Across the country, a select group of surgeons is helping shape the field through clinical innovation, research leadership, education and the…