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Ore. board orders reviews of surgeon’s decisions

The Columbian
Published: April 15, 2011, 12:00am

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon regulators say a mentor will be reviewing the operating decisions of a Portland neurosurgeon who figures in a Wall Street Journal investigation of Medicare billing and multiple spinal surgeries on the same patient.

The Oregon Medical Board released an agreement Friday it said was necessary while it completes an investigation of Dr. Vishal James Makker (MAK-er). He signed the order.

The board said it got “credible information” this year about four patients but gave no other details.

The Journal has reported that Makker had the highest rate of multiple spinal-fusion surgeries among 3,407 surgeons who performed the procedure on 20 or more Medicare patients in 2008 and 2009.

He denied wrongdoing, telling the paper he acted in the best interest of the patients. He didn’t immediately return calls Friday.

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