It's documented now.
Over the past two decades, spine surgeons have faced systematic devaluation of their work, leading to financial strain, professional burnout, and a shift away from independent practice.
Key findings include:
Reimbursement Decline: Inflation-adjusted Medicare payments for the 15 most common spinal procedures have dropped 33.8% since 2000, equating to an average annual loss of nearly 2%. This is exacerbated by the lack of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to the Physician Fee Schedule since 2001, while practice expenses have risen over 60%.
Independent Practice Erosion: On...
