What spine surgeons need to stay independent in 5 years
By Admin | March 27, 2026
The rules for spine surgeon independence are changing, and what will help surgeons thrive in five years will look different than what worked a decade ago.
Three spine surgeons discuss the strategies needed to ensure independence for the long haul.
Next question: Which spine cases are becoming harder to deliver sustainably, and what’s driving that change?
Editor’s note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity.
Question: What’s a capability spine surgeons will need to stay independent over the next five years that wasn’t necessary a decade ago?
Brian McHugh, MD. McHugh McHugh Neurosurgery (West Islip, N.Y.): A decade ago, technical skill and reputation were often enough. Today, independence also requires fluency in healthcare economics and payer policy. Spine surgeons need to understand how contracts are structured, how reimbursement benchmarks are calculated, and how utilization decisions are made. Without that knowledge, it is difficult to protect both your practice and patient access. Technical excellence remains essential. But sustaining independence now requires the ability to navigate systems that are increasingly complex and often consolidated. In many cases, it also requires a more deliberate approach to data, operations and long-term financial planning than was necessary 10 years ago.
Vijay Yanamadala, MD. Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare: Data analytics and the ability to demonstrate clinical value through outcomes. Independent surgeons need to prove what most of us already know: We’re delivering excellent care at...(More)
For more info please read, What spine surgeons need to stay independent in 5 years, by Becker's Spine Review
