RWJBarnabas and Hackensack
are excellent. They don’t offer
what we offer.

Yes — for Grade I spondylolisthesis with stenosis, which is the diagnosis that generates most spondylolisthesis fusion recommendations. TOPS stabilizes the vertebral slip while preserving controlled segmental motion. The FDA randomized controlled trial showed 77% overall clinical success with TOPS versus 24% for fusion at 2 years. RWJBarnabas is a solid institution. TOPS is not offered there because the certification has not been pursued — not because the technology is experimental. A telemedicine second opinion determines whether your anatomy is a TOPS candidate before you commit to fusion that permanently eliminates motion at that level.

For single or two-level cervical disc disease without significant instability — which describes most ACDF candidates — disc replacement is often the superior long-term option. The ProDisc-C FDA IDE trial demonstrated a 5-fold lower reoperation rate at 5 years versus ACDF (2.9% vs. 14.5%). Hackensack Meridian spine surgeons are not certified for Simplify® or ProDisc-C®. A second opinion from a surgeon certified for both — who will recommend whichever is better for your specific anatomy — is the right step before committing to ACDF.

Yes — and this is the specific question New Jersey patients most often ask. HSS is the finest orthopedic hospital in the world for many procedures. It does not offer TOPS. It does not routinely offer lumbar disc replacement. It does not perform Barricaid. It is a teaching hospital where residents and fellows participate in surgery. The gap that exists at RWJBarnabas and Hackensack is the same gap that exists at HSS, Columbia, NYU Langone, and Weill Cornell — because it is a certification-based gap, not a quality-based one. Every tri-state academic program recommends fusion for spondylolisthesis because none of them are certified for TOPS. Getting a second opinion at HSS after being told to have fusion at RWJBarnabas is, in this specific respect, the same conversation with a more prestigious letterhead.

Yes — most major New Jersey insurance plans cover out-of-state surgery, including Horizon BCBS of New Jersey, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and AmeriHealth. The surgery itself is billed to your insurance in the standard way. The practice provides full documentation for out-of-state claims. PRP and BMAC biologics are the only cash-pay elements — optional add-ons that insurance does not cover, priced and disclosed upfront.

Yes — and this is a genuine differentiator that matters specifically for New Jersey’s large Indian-American community. PA Ananya Mahajan is a fully credentialed Physician Assistant who conducts independent clinic visits and telemedicine consultations in Hindi. She sees patients herself, reviews imaging with Dr. Katsevman, and manages pre- and post-operative care — all in Hindi when that is the patient’s preference. This level of cultural and linguistic access is not available at RWJBarnabas, Hackensack Meridian, or any major New Jersey academic spine program. You can meet PA Mahajan and the full team at floridaspinesurgeon.org/team.

Yes — this is the ideal arrangement. Start with a telemedicine consultation from New Jersey before your departure. If surgery is appropriate, it is scheduled during your Florida stay. Most procedures are same-day or next-day discharge. Recovery at your Southwest Florida address. Telemedicine follow-up after returning to New Jersey. Newark to Naples is a 2.5-hour direct flight — one of the shortest trips of any Northeast feeder market. New Jersey patients from Bergen County, Essex County, Morris County, Monmouth County, and the Shore communities find this arrangement very practical.