Lumbar spinal fusion · Washington
Lumbar spinal fusion in Washington: the highest-volume physicians
39 physicians in Washington billed Medicare for 963 lumbar spinal fusion procedures in 2024. The top 25, with the year before beside it.
Top 25
| Rank | Physician | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melvin M. Wahl, MDNeurosurgery · Richland | 79 | 49 | +61% |
| 2 | Andrew P. Manista, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Olympia | 58 | 93 | −38% |
| 3 | Dawei Lu, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Mount Vernon | 57 | 62 | −8% |
| 4 | Ryan J. Halpin, MDNeurosurgery · Olympia | 48 | 53 | −9% |
| 5 | Peter C. Nora, MDNeurosurgery · Seattle | 43 | 34 | +26% |
| 6 | Lee Sandquist, DONeurosurgery · Spokane Valley | 36 | 22 | +64% |
| 7 | Hank J. Vejvoda, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Wenatchee | 34 | 31 | +10% |
| 8 | Matthew E. Fewel, MDNeurosurgery · Richland | 30 | 22 | +36% |
| 8 | Viral R. Patel, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Seattle | 30 | 29 | +3% |
| 8 | Alexander H. Arzeno, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Issaquah | 30 | 28 | +7% |
| 11 | Michael A. Chang, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Yakima | 27 | 49 | −45% |
| 11 | Christine Hammer, MDNeurosurgery · Tacoma | 27 | 16 | |
| 13 | Jason H. Thompson, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Renton | 24 | 28 | −14% |
| 13 | Joshua B. Shatsky, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Seattle | 24 | 28 | −14% |
| 13 | Jos A. Cove, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Tacoma | 24 | 19 | |
| 16 | Alireza K. Anissipour, DOOrthopedic Surgery · Everett | 23 | 16 | |
| 16 | Ashit C. Patel, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Bellevue | 23 | 32 | −28% |
| 16 | Katie Huynh, DONeurosurgery · Spokane | 23 | 20 | +15% |
| 19 | Ramana GorrepatiNeurosurgery · Bellingham | 22 | — | |
| 20 | Jens R. Chapman, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Seattle | 21 | 30 | −30% |
| 21 | Sheila M. Smitherman, MDNeurosurgery · Olympia | 20 | — | |
| 22 | Richard J. BransfordOrthopedic Surgery · Seattle | 19 | 19 | |
| 22 | Nicholas T. Spina, MDOrthopedic Surgery · Seattle | 19 | 30 | −37% |
| 24 | David P. Gruber, MDNeurosurgery · Spokane | 17 | 15 | |
| 24 | Wael Y. Musleh, MD, PHDNeurosurgery · Vancouver | 17 | — |
A rank counts procedures billed under the physician's own NPI (CPT 22633, 22612), in 2024, Medicare fee-for-service only. A surgeon who mostly treats younger or Medicare Advantage patients will rank lower than their total volume. Method and limits.