Monthly Archives: April 2017

Today's Top Story Study: Older lumbar spinal surgery patients may be at increased risk of complication; readmission. Findings published online in The Spine Journal suggest that elderly patients who undergo lumbar spinal surgery may be at increased risk of complication and readmission. The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2,320 patients older than 80 years who underwent lumbar spine surgery. They found that 379 (16.34 percent) patients experienced at least one complication or death. Overall, 75 (3.23 [...]

Today's Top Story House heads for recess with Affordable Care Act repeal in the air. The U.S. House of Representatives left for a 2-week recess yesterday not substantially closer to advancing a healthcare bill to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pointed to an amendment that would marginally curb premium increases as a sign of progress, a comprehensive package to supersede the ACA lies out of reach as conservatives and moderates within [...]

Today's Top Story Medscape report finds orthopaedics to be highest-compensated specialty. Medscape has released its Physician Compensation Report 2017, in which orthopaedics again tops the list of highest-paid specialties. The report states that average annual pay for self-employed specialist physicians is $368,000, compared to $278,000 for employed specialists. In addition, it finds a 37 percent pay gap between male and female specialists overall, but notes that some of that trend may be explained by a smaller percentage of [...]

Today's Top Story June 30 registration deadline for MIPS participants who plan to use CMS web interface. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a reminder that groups participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) track of the Quality Payment Program and who plan to use the CMS web interface and/or Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) for MIPS Survey must register by June 30, 2017. NOTE: the agency states that [...]