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O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Adding pain manage-
ment and minimally
invasive spine to your
facility's lineup may
require a moderate ini-
tial investment in
equipment and instru-
ments, if other special-
ties haven't already
brought the compo-
nents on site. A full-size
C-arm is a must, and can cost $120,000 new or substantially less if you opt for a
refurbished model. A refurbished neurosurgical microscope costs $50,000 to
$70,000, although leasing arrangements may be available.
A set of minimally invasive tubal retractors for lumbar access ranges from
$39,000 to $55,000, and a stylus power drill goes for $14,000 to $18,000. Some
physicians swear by headlamps to light the way; those can cost about $6,000 to
$7,000. Ask your distributors if they're affiliated with a medical equipment supplier
or scout out dealers online for the best deals.
Your biggest budget concern, though, is likely to be the continuing costs of
implants and disposables. While pain management is as inexpensive as it is quick —
$50 to $75 for epidural steroid injection kits that take 10 to 15 minutes to use —
incisions add up the costs. Consider the following. Trial leads for pain stimulators
cost $850 to $2,000. On average, Medicare reimburses the implantation of trial
pain stimulators at $3,837. The permanent leads range from $18,000 to $29,000,
while permanent implantation is reimbursed at $20,807. The biologics, cages, rods
and screws needed for cervical fusion can cost $2,200 to $5,000. Medicare pays
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
Can We Profit From Outpatient Spine?
z STARTING POINT Delivering pain management injections is a sim-
ple and profitable base on which to build outpatient spine procedures.
