Linda remembers Dr. Zach Tempel telling her how #spinaldeformity surgery could improve her quality of life. Today, after surgery to strengthen & stabilize her spine, Linda is active again. bit.ly/Hope_Linda @spinesection #mayfieldhopestory #scoliosisawareness

Not all #spinal fusions are the same. And @CMSGov gets it. In the FY2027 IPPS proposed rule, CMS proposes new MS-DRGs better distinguish highly complex spinal deformity and reconstruction procedures from routine spinal fusion services.👏👏👏 And not to bury the lead, but CMS is also exploring ways to bolster physician-owned hospitals to demonstrate what many of us already know: when physicians lead, patients win. #POH The AANS and CNS weighed in. Read our letter: aans.org/wp-content/uploads/… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @councilsns @spinesection @painsection @physicianhosp

This week, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY 2027 Labor-HHS spending bill, prioritizing NIH funding and preserving NIH's ability to forward-fund multiyear research awards - an important step toward ensuring lifesaving research continues without disruption. The AANS and CNS were proud to stand alongside nearly 600 organizations supporting robust NIH funding and policies that allow researchers to pursue the next generation of cures and treatments. Read the joint statement from our coalition here 👉 fundnih.org/media/10616/down… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @councilsns @cvsection @spinesection @PedsSection @painsection

Honored to have the tremendous Dr. Regis Haid back on the show, to discuss a transformational new technique for cervical instrumentation! @AANSNeuro @spinesection @AANSNeurosurg @CNS_Update @councilsns @NREFORG @neurosurgery youtube.com/watch?v=1rZ5Ka9c…

@UNCneurosurgery is proud to see the work of @BolesXian featured on the front cover of this month’s Operative Neurosurgery journal. Xian has beautifully depicted our reduction technique of spinal cord herniation outlined in the associated manuscript & surgical video. @CNS_Update @spinesection @unc_neurorads @UNC_Health_Care @UNCMedCenter @NeurosurgeryCNS #neurosurgery #meded #spine

🚨 REPORT: 82% of physicians are now employed by hospitals or corporate entities. Nearly two-thirds of practices are no longer physician-owned. This outcome should not surprise anyone. For more than a decade, Medicare payment cuts, mounting administrative burden, growing insurer oligopolies, and policies that disadvantage independent practices have made this outcome entirely predictable. If lawmakers want more competition, lower costs, and better access to care, preserving independent practice must be part of the conversation. No single reform will reverse decades of consolidation. But policymakers can start by fixing Medicare, fixing prior authorization, expanding physician-owned hospitals, and strengthening antitrust enforcement. Dive into the full study 👉 physiciansadvocacyinstitute.… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @spinesection @AANSCNStrauma @painsection @councilsns @physicianhosp

Dr. Luis Tumialán on his proudest initiative with the CSNS - the campaign to raise awareness about ACA Section 6001! @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @neurosurgery @NREFORG @spinesection @physicianhosp @BKRBusinessMin

Taking a deep dive into the new Federal IDR final rule, but a few early highlights stand out 👇👇 ✅ Health plans will now be required to identify claims eligible for the No Surprises Act dispute resolution process using standardized claim codes. ✅Requires health plans to provide clearer plan identification information and instructions on how physicians can initiate the No Surprises Act open negotiation process when claims are paid or denied. ✅ A new Federal IDR registry may improve accountability and oversight. That said, transparency is only part of the solution. The real test will be whether insurers comply. We'll continue reviewing the rule, but meaningful enforcement and accountability remain essential to ensuring the No Surprises Act works as Congress intended. Congress needs to build on the NSA and pass the NSA Enforcement Act (HR 4710 / S 2420). @councilsns @spinesection @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update

ICYMI: @WaysandMeansGOP @WaysMeansCmte advanced the bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163)! THANK YOU to @RepGregMurphy, @RepSchneider, @RepTomSuozzi, @RepBobOnder, and the many other cosponsors for leading this important effort to #FixMedicareNow and strengthen long-term stability for independent medical practices and patient access. H.R. 8163 would: ✅ Increase and index the budget neutrality threshold 👏 Address flawed CMS utilization assumptions 💰 Require routine updates to practice expense inputs 👉 Cap year-to-year conversion factor changes at 2.5% Learn more about the legislation here👇 waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-co… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @councilsns @spinesection

Surgical treatment strategies for thoracolumbar burst fractures have been a topic of debate for many years. In our latest surgical video publication in Operative Neurosurgery, we detail our technique for performing a midline-sparing partial corpectomy in a patient with a severe neurological deficit. This approach involves completely sparing the midline ligaments, as well as contralateral muscles, and facet joints. Fixation at the index level of the fracture is a component of this technique, if enough bony integrity is present to accept a screw. Unilateral access to the ventral epidural compartment is necessary to remove the compressive retropulsed bony fragments. We have performed this approach many times for traumas, and have been expanding the indications more broadly. Check out the surgical video link below in the comments section. @UNCneurosurgery @unc_neurorads @UNC_SOM @SGUAlumni @StGeorgesU @CNS_Update @spinesection @NeurosurgeryCNS

ICYMI: Some insurers are denying implants commonly used in neck/spine surgery by labeling them “experimental” — despite decades of use and broad clinical support. Washington Committee member Luis Manuel Tumialán, MD, and spine surgery leaders are calling for coverage policies grounded in evidence-based medicine and clinical expertise — not outdated insurer guidelines. Read more 👇 cns.org/advocacy/statements-… @TUMI4L4N @spinesection @AANS_President @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update

Neo-feudalism? Not just for your high school history course. Welcome to healthcare in 2026. Physicians have been forced by regulatory crony capitalism to abandoned private property and become serfs to the feudal lords that are the expanding nonprofit healthcare systems. At best they will be granted a fiefdom. A title, a domain, but not ownership. And it’s a title that can quickly be taken away. Modern healthcare has degraded to a medieval relic. There are real changes that can fix this. My latest in @aier @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @spineadvocacy @spinesection @councilsns @neurosurgery

Two days to go to submit your abstract to the #CNS2026 annual meeting - Be part of the scientific exchange 🎙 Be part of the #Evolution of #neurosurgery @cnsresidents @cns_update @spinesection @assfneurosurg @aanscnstrauma @nstumorsection @cvsection_aanscns @womeninnsgy

Hot off the press publication in Operative Neurosurgery from @UNCneurosurgery ! We are proud to continue our leadership in surgical video education at the @UNC_SOM . Our team is redefining how we capture wide-field spinal oncology and deformity cases for resident education. This publication provides a comprehensive review of our methodology, detailing how we capture the fine nuances of these highly challenging operations. Examples of video capture from en bloc sacral #chordoma resection and correction of adult idiopthic #scoliosis are shown. Through this departmental initiative, we have successfully built a curated digital repository of surgical videos. Our resident team can seamlessly access these resources from any mobile device to prepare ahead of complex cases. Sincere thanks to my medical student apprentice, Daniel Faraj , and our incredible illustrator, Mark Schornak , for the immense value they added to this project. Watch & Read the full publication here ⬇️⬇️⬇️ journals.lww.com/onsonline/f… @CNS_Update @spinesection @NeurosurgeryCNS #neurosurgery #orthopedics #meded

Voluntary insurer promises? We’ve seen this movie before — and patients are still stuck waiting. The Washington Committee joins the Regulatory Relief Coalition in calling for real accountability. Seniors, patients with disabilities, and veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage deserve the full force of the law... not another pinky swear. Read the @RegRelief press release and help us urge Congress to pass the Seniors Act (S 1816/HR 3514)! #FixPriorAuth👇 🔗 regrelief.org/wp-content/upl… @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @CouncilSNS @painsection @cvsection @spinesection @PedsSection @Neuro_Trauma

📰 Hot off the press! Read CSNS member @RMengerMD lay out the ongoing struggles with insurance coverage for ACDF implants in Forbes. @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @spinesection @neurosurgery Will Insurance Cover Neck Surgery Implants? Spine Societies Speak Out via @forbes forbes.com/sites/richardmeng…

NEW must-read from Health Affairs! 👇 Not every medical challenge can be solved with prevention or primary care alone — brain tumors like glioblastoma, ruptured aneurysms, and spinal cord injuries from traumatic events. Patients are waiting longer for specialty care, independent specialty practices are disappearing, and physicians are being pushed into employment due to federal payment policies in the @CMSGov Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (and a lack of congressional action). America doesn’t need less specialty care. Patients need both primary AND specialty care. Policies that force them to compete against each other only harm patient access. #FixMedicareNow @AANSNeuro @CNS_Update @councilsns @spinesection @cvsection @NSTumorSection @AmCollSurgeons @AmerMedicalAssn

Yes! Continue preaching!🙌@Paragon_Inst @physicianhosp @councilsns @spinesection

A huge shoutout to our spine faculty Drs. Charley Sansur @CAS_Spine, Bizhan Aarabi @AarabiBizhan, and Josh Olexa for representing @UMDNeurosurgery at #AANS2026 this past week! Your presentations reflect the incredible research and innovation happening here every day. @AANSNeurosurg @AANSNeuro @spinesection

Turning insight into impact! How to Build a Tumor Practice panel @AANSNeuro #aans2026 brought the blueprint to life. Great discussion on strategy, mentorship, and multidisciplinary care with #DrIsabelleGermano @MountSinaiNeuro , Dr @RandyDAmico_MD @LenoxNeurosurg , @IsaacYangMD @UCLANsgy @AANSDiversity @NSTumorSection @spinesection @AANSCNStrauma #Innovation #Collaboration #Transformation @UCLA_ENT @UCLAHealth @dgsomucla @HarborUCLA @HarborUCLASurg @HarborTrauma