Docs Performing Fusions Tied to Implant Manufacturers

Hospitals that collect the most money from Medicare for performing spinal fusions also employ doctors with economic ties to the manufacturers of the devices used in the procedure, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday -- providing the latest bad press for a procedure that has long been under fire by workers' compensation cost-control advocates.Critics who claim spinal surgery is overused say physicians have a financial incentive to perform these procedures, the paper reports. But physicians and device manufacturer Medtronic say the payments cover royalties for products the physicians hel...