SmartTRAK was on-site at NASS 2023 covering the latest spine trends including hosting the hottest reception in town, “Targeting the ASC, What Spine Companies Need to Know."

Shifting hospital-based procedures to the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is one of the biggest opportunities for healthcare savings and the opportunity is especially great for spine given its high acuity procedures like lateral lumbar fusions, 360 fusions and total disc replacements (TDRs) according to the results of SmartTRAK’s recent survey of 30 ortho, spine and neurosurgeons. At this year’s North American Society (NASS) Annual Meeting held in Los Angeles, CA October 18-21, SmartTRAK hosted a standing-room-only reception for industry on the migration of spine procedures into the ASC titled “Targeting the ASC: What Manufacturers Need to Know,” which included panel discussions and presentations focused on the spine market and practice trends. In this article, SmartTRAK highlights the top takeaways from the reception and identifies the latest trends and innovations at NASS affecting growth in the US Spine Market. Topics covered in the article include:

• New Care Models Optimizing Outpatient Spine
• The Motion Preservation “Renaissance” was Hard to Miss
• MIS SI Joint Fusion Systems – A Plethora of Systems, New Devices Launching Ahead of 2024 Reimbursement Changes.
• Will New Interbody Technologies Displace the Need for Biologics?
• Deals Abound: Several Biologics Deals Announced at NASS and After

To download and read the complete "NASS 2023: Trends, Advancing Technologies and New Deals Shaping the Future of Spine" article by Kris Jacques,  SmartTRAK's GM, Spine, just click the button below.

Nevro* (NVRO) announced it acquired VYRSA Technologies*, a privately held company focused on the minimally invasive treatment of chronic sacroiliac joint (SI Joint) pain. According to the Company, VYRSA is the only SI joint company that manufactures and supports a complete portfolio of FDA-cleared, state-of-the-art SI joint fusion devices. The acquisition was signed and closed on Nov 30, 2023. 

NVRO paid $40MM at closing and agreed to pay up to an additional $35MM in cash or stock tied to milestones. NVRO CEO Kevin Thornal said VYRSA offers differentiated implants to the Company’s current call point of physicians and will help drive company growth, adding that the technology will help bring long-term pain relief to the 15-30% of people suffering with chronic low back pain associated with the SI joint.

The US MIS SI Joint Fusion Market is the fastest-growing segment in the US Spine Market and a growing number of pain physicians are performing these procedures. According to SmartTRAK’s recently published 2023 US MIS SI Joint Market Report, this market is projected to grow at +18% CAGR over the next five years and 53+ MIS SI Joint Fusion systems are now commercially available in the US. See 2023 MIS SI Joint Fusion Market Report*.

The Company also announced the closing of a six-year, $200MM term loan credit facility to be used to repurchase the majority of its 2025 Convertible Notes and for working capital and other corporate purposes. NVRO CFO Rod MacLeod noted that the Company was pleased to refinance a majority of its debt and push the maturity out to 2029 while limiting equity dilution to 2.6MM warrant shares. 

Ready to dive into one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world of Spine? Welcome to the realm of SI Joint Fusion, a market poised for remarkable growth with a projected 5-year CAGR of +18%. At SmartTRAK, we’re excited to introduce you to this thriving sector and give you a sneak peek of our forthcoming in-depth market segment solution subscription.

Outlined below is a brief list highlighting some of the key insights awaiting you upon subscribing to SmartTRAK's innovative solution and the valuable knowledge it delivers:

• Market Overview (US only/MIS market only):
  - Incidence and Prevalence: Understand the scale of SI Joint Fusion cases.
  - Market Size: Explore the market's current size and potential.
  - Revenue/Procedure Forecast through 2027: Take a look at expected future growth by market segments; transfixing and non-transfixing.
  - Growth Trends: Stay ahead with insights into emerging trends.
• Competitive Landscape:
  - By System Type: Discover the differences between Transfixing and Non-transfixing.
  - 2022 ASP Data Summary: Gain access to crucial pricing information.
• National/Regional Site of Service Procedure Volume Data:
  - HOPD vs ASC vs. Inpatient: Know where these procedures are performed.     - Annual Trends from 2017: Track the historical data for insights. 
• Coding & Reimbursement - 2024 Outlook:
  - Anticipate changes in coding and reimbursement for the coming year.
• Why MIS SIJ Fusion Matters:
  Within the vast Spine landscape, the Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) SI Joint Fusion procedure category is the star of the show. Here's why:
  - Growing Awareness and Diagnosis: More individuals are recognizing SI joint pain as a significant issue.
  - Robust Clinical Data: The body of clinical evidence is expanding.
  - Increasing Reimbursement Coding: Hospitals, HOPDs, ASCs and Physician's offices.
• The Future of MIS SI Joint Fusion:
  Acceptance of the posterior/dorsal non-transfixing MIS SI fusion approach is on the rise. This process is set to drive procedural growth and popularity, particularly among interventional pain physicians at Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs).
  
  

So are you ready to dive into one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world of Spine? Don’t miss your chance to stay ahead of the curve in the booming world of SI Joint Fusion and Be The Expert! Just click the button below to find out more.

Three MACs rocked the Skin Substitute/CTP market with changes in coverage in their final LCDs implemented in September. SmartTRAK takes a look at the overall impact on the market.

SmartTRAK has covered the highly active, ever-growing Skin Substitute/CTP market for over ten years. During that time, the market has grown at a CAGR of over +13%. Most years it experienced strong double-digit growth except those years impacted by reimbursement changes, Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations or the COVID-19 pandemic. Skin Substitute/CTPs are primarily used on Medicare patients with non-healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs). The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) primarily pays for health care services for people aged 65 and older. Individuals can receive health care benefits via traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which is run by private health insurance plans. Traditional Medicare contracts with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to process claims for reimbursement and write local coverage determinations (LCDs). Currently, there are twelve regions in the US managed by seven MACs.

Among the topics covered in this extensive article are:

• Key Policy Changes
• Impact on Patients
• Market Impact

On August 3, 2023, three MACs issued final LCDs governing the use of Skin Substitutes/CTPs in treating DFUs and VLUs. The release of the final LCDs, which are effective September 17, 2023, was not surprising to the market, given that the proposed LCDs were issued in 2022. The proposed LCDs allowed ...

To download and read the complete "Impact of Medicare Administrative Contractor LCD Changes on Skin Substitute/CTP Market" article by Susan Paquette, SmartTRAK's VP & General Manager, Wound and Terry Hayslett, Sr. Analyst, Wound just click the button below.

SmartTRAK's Elise Wolf, Vice President and General Manager of Orthopedics, Digital and Quality, along with Beth Roach, Director, Data Strategy, will be discussing new trends in Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) and effective targeting strategies at the 2023 Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference (MNVC) on Nov 14-15 at the FedEx Institute of Technology in Memphis, TN. They will also delve into a detailed case study on ASC builds. Their presentation is titled "Targeting the ASC: Essential Knowledge for Orthopedic Companies." Make sure you don’t miss out on Elise and Beth's expert insights!

At the 20th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology, SmartTRAK identifies market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future.

The American Vein and Lymphatic Society recently hosted the 20th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology (UIP 2023) in Miami Beach, FL. The Congress drew clinicians from around the world to discuss the latest advances in venous and lymphatic medicine. While the Congress covered many interesting topics, SmartTRAK noted market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future. In this article, SmartTRAK explores the impact that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement cuts are having on physicians treating venous and lymphatic diseases, examines how clinicians and industry are responding to the proposed Medicare coverage of lymphedema treatment items and evaluates what’s on the horizon for emerging technologies. 

This downloadable article, discussing the market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future, delves into many compelling topics, including:

Physician Payment Cuts
The American Medical Association reported that between 2001 and 2023, the cost of operating a medical practice increased by 47%, while physician payment rates increased by only 9%. When adjusted for inflation, the rates have gone down by 26%. Dr. John Blebea, Vascular Surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at Central Michigan University, underscored this point with a presentation titled “The Effect of Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts on Office-Based Practices.” Dr. Blebea noted that ...

New Medicare Coverage of Lymphedema Treatment Items
Medicare currently provides Durable Medical Equipment (DME) coverage or authorizes payment for certain compression items when used to treat venous stasis ulcers. However, Medicare does not provide coverage for many of the same items when they are used to treat lymphedema. This dynamic provides a great case study of the effectiveness of advocacy in calling for ...

Emerging Technologies
If innovation fuels growth in the med tech industry, then the number of sessions on emerging technologies at UIP 2023 should mean that the future is bright for venous and lymphatic medicine. Dr. Steve Elias, Director, Center for Vein Disease, Englewood Health Network, hosted several sessions on emerging innovations in thrombectomy, sclerotherapy, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided imaging, intravascular ultrasound and compression therapy. SmartTRAK has covered the Compression Therapy Market since 2015 and has watched ...

To download and read the complete article about The Future of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine by Terry Hayslett, SmartTRAK Senior Analyst, Advanced Wound Care, just click the button below.

New SaaS technology offering delivers competitive advantage in rapidly changing Ambulatory Surgery Center market.

SmartTRAK, the leading global Medtech business and market software intelligence solution in the Orthopedics, Wound Care, Regenerative Medicine and Neuro Therapy markets, announces the release of enhanced software products and strategic reports available for purchase in Q4 to help clients position themselves for growth in 2024 and beyond.

SmartTRAK takes a quick look at recent trends that may influence the Total Joints Market in the near and long term

Wall Street Analysts recently called out two trends specifically that could influence the Total Joints Market. One trend, the strengthening of the US dollar, is likely to impact the global market in 2024. Another trend is the increased prescribing of GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Byetta and Mounjaro, medications first used to treat Type 2 diabetes, as a treatment for obesity. This has the potential to impact the market down the road. In this downloadable article, SmartTRAK maps out the potential impact of these trends.

To download and read the complete article by SmartTRAK's Lisa Mahan, Product Development & IT, Sr. Analyst TJ&E, just click the button below.

Medtronic Neurovascular President Dan Volz discusses expanding patient access to neurovascular therapies through innovation and globalization in an interview with SmartTRAK.

Medtronic Neurovascular President Dan Volz discusses innovation, globalization and the Company’s plans to double the number of neurovascular patients treated annually in three years in an interview with SmartTRAK. Volz said the Company is driving growth in Neurovascular through innovative business models and strategic investments in remote connectivity and the Medtronic Neurovascular Co-Lab Platform, a novel incubator designed to accelerate innovation in stroke care and treatment. To find out more about the Company and its latest innovations, click on the video to listen to the full interview (27:30 min). To download a transcript of the complete interview, just click the button below.

Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Dan Volz, president of Medtronic Neurovascular. Dan, thank you for speaking with me today.

Dan Volz: It's my pleasure. It's good to talk to you.

I haven't talked to you for a while and I was hoping to catch up with you at SNIS when it was here in San Diego. Now that we are talking, let's just start broadly and talk from your perspective, what's important for us to know about Medtronic Neurovascular and what are your top priorities for fiscal year 2024?

DV: It's good to see you and I'm sorry that I missed you down in San Diego. That was a pretty quick up and back for me, but for us obviously it's about the patients and we had a pretty important milestone in 2022. In a 12-month period we helped treat 250,000 people, so that was a great celebration for us as a business. But I think even more importantly, it kicked off our strategic planning process to double that number in three years. And so everything that we do is centered on how do we drive toward that number? And there's a lot that goes into that, but it starts with obviously innovation and how are we innovating in our portfolio? What are we doing organically and what are we looking at inorganically to drive toward that number? And you know these statistics as well as anyone, there's 15 million strokes and we only treat five to 600,000 of them a year ...

To download and read the transcript of the complete interview with Dan Volz, president of Medtronic Neurovascular, by SmartTRAK's Anne Staylor, Executive Editor, VP & GM of Neuro Therapies, just clickthe button below.