include a clause
in your purchas-
ing agreement
that there will be
no hidden or
extra fees for cer-
tain size implants
or for using a cer-
tain screw, he
adds.
Ms. Moretti says
it's best to buy all your implants from a single vendor. "Implant costs
will make you or break you," she says, "Just like with any supply, if
you give the implant company more volume, it'll be more willing to
negotiate price." Of course, for this to happen, your surgeons must
agree to use the same type of implant, she says. Find out what area
hospitals are paying for implants. "There's ways to find out," she says
— from asking patients for their EOBs to asking your colleagues.
Is the anterior approach superior?
The anterior approach is the shortest and least disruptive way to
reach the hip. The surgeon needs to make only 1 incision, and is able
to do so without detaching muscle from the pelvis or femur.
"There's less muscle and soft tissue to fix after the joint is replaced,
which is one of the main reasons patients can ambulate soon after sur-
gery and prepare for same-day discharge," says Richard B. Schultz,
MD, director of orthopedics at Scott & White Healthcare in Round
Rock, Texas.
Another significant advantage of the anterior approach: You can
place patients in the supine position during surgery. Because patients
J U L Y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 5
• FIXED PRICE Under a bundled payment model, hip replacement is reimbursed with a single all-inclusive fee.
