Translating MIPS Value Pathways into perioperative practice—What OR leaders need to know
In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. Among the most impactful updates is the launch of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—a mandatory value-based payment program focused on heart failure and low back pain.…
Psychological therapy results vary by intervention in acute pain care, review shows
Editor's Note Psychological interventions such as hypnosis, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may reduce acute pain in clinical settings, though statistically significant effects were found only in some studies, according to a July 16 scoping review published in The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Hypnosis was the most adaptable…
CMS payment overhaul could cut specialist pay
Editor's Note A “quiet transformation” in how Medicare pays doctors could reduce payments for specialty care, including rates for billing codes associated with surgery, diagnostic imaging, outpatient care, pain management, and orthopedics, Modern Healthcare reported July 22. According to the article, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’ 2026…
Study: Feedback-based intervention boosts opioid prescribing adherence without worsening pain control
Editor's Note Providing tailored feedback to surgical prescribers significantly increased adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines without affecting patients’ ability to manage postoperative pain, according to research published June 11 in JAMA Surgery. The study tested whether monthly reports that included peer prescribing comparisons and patient-reported outcomes could influence opioid prescribing…
New AAAHC toolkit advances pain control while cutting opioid use in outpatient surgery
Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) launched a new pain management toolkit that prioritizes multimodal strategies to improve outcomes and reduce opioid use in ambulatory surgery. Designed for the unique challenges of outpatient care, the resource provides practical, evidence-based guidance to optimize safety, comfort, and recovery.…
Study: Pain degrades surgical team performance, increases burnout
Editor's Note Pain is common among surgeons, but new research in the American Journal of Surgery reveals the extent of the impact on the rest of the surgical team. Published July 6, the research involved surveying surgical teams and collecting self-reported data on musculoskeletal pain, comparing this data to self-reported…
Neuromodulation gaining momentum as a transformative force in neuro care
Editor's Note Neuromodulation is shifting from the margins to the forefront of neurological treatment, offering real-world potential to transform care for conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and substance use disorder. As reported by Medical Device Network on May 19, the field is seeing accelerated innovation and investment, with global market…
Painkiller without opioid risks shows potential in animal trials
Editor's Note An experimental compound developed at Duke University School of Medicine provides strong pain relief without the side effects or addiction potential of opioids, according to a May 19 announcement from the university. Known as SBI-810, the drug targets a specific receptor in the nervous system and uses a…
Clinicians urged to rethink gynecologic pain management
Editor's Note Pain among patients undergoing in-office gynecologic procedures is widely underestimated and ineffectively treated, particularly for those with trauma histories, chronic pain, or marginalized identities, according to a new Clinical Consensus from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The report stresses that individualized, evidence-informed, and trauma-sensitive strategies are…
Study: Blocking stress-linked prolactin surge relieves postoperative pain in women
Editor's Note Blocking stress-induced prolactin may significantly reduce postoperative pain in women and curb the need for opioids, according to a study led by University of Arizona Health Sciences. News-Medical.Net summarized the findings May 20. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research suggests a path toward…
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