Dr. Kube works to reduce implant costs for patients and has been featured in a new Becker’s ASC Review article.
Dr. Kube is one of three surgeons from around the country featured in the article. It also includes insights from other industry and medical professionals discussing five ways to save on spine surgery materials costs.
Dr. Kube recommends considering commodity implants as long as the implant is able to provide the same quality of care. He says it can save a doctor a significant amount of money over the course of a year, savings that can be passed on to patients and their insurance companies.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
Consider commoditized implants. Prices of commodity implants are typically less than 50 percent of the average market cost of premium implants. The commodity implant can be used for a variety of cases, such as one-level lumbar fusion, basic rotator cuff repair or a basic suture anchor. For example, the commodity implant for a one-level lumbar fusion costs $2,500-$3,000, compared with $14,000-$15,000 for full invoice price for the premium version for a savings of $12,000 on one case. Even with typical hospital and provider discounts, the surgeon can still save $5,000-$7,000 per case. “A spine surgeon who uses commodity implants for most of his surgeries could realize a half million dollars in savings a year,” says Richard A. Kube, MD, CEO of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute in Peoria, Ill. “However, make sure the implant is able to provide the same quality of care.”
To read the article in its entirety, click here.