Contents

 Editorial

n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
Formulas for the Future   
Eeric Truumees, MD

n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Technology and the Future of Medicine 
Richard D. Guyer, MD

n COMMENTARY
NASS is Growing and Raising the Bar
Looking Out for Members by Pushing the Field for Objectivity   
Joel M. Press, MD; Richard Guyer, MD; Tom Faciszewski, MD; Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD;
Eric J. Muehlbauer, MJ, CA

 Current Concepts

n EDITOR'S NOTE
Surgical versus Nonsurgical Treatment: Analyzing the SPORT Data 
Eeric Truumees, MD

n SPECIAL FEATURE
Surgical versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar
Spondylolisthesis 
James N. Weinstein, DO; Jon D. Lurie, MD; Tor D. Tosteson, ScD; Brett Hanscom,
MS; Anna N. A. Tosteson, ScD; Emily A. Blood, MS; Nancy J.O. Birkmeyer, PhD; Alan
S. Hilibrand, MD; Harry Herkowitz, MD; Frank P. Cammisa, MD; Todd J. Albert, MD;
Sanford E. Emery, MD, MBA; Lawrence G. Lenke, MD; William A. Abdu, MD; Michael
Longley, MD; Thomas J. Errico, MD; Serena S. Hu, MD

n CURVE/COUNTERCURVE
Management of Osteoporotic Compression Fracture:
Conservative Treatment or Vertebral Augmentation? 
William Sullivan, MD; Raj Rao, MD; Heidi Prather, DO

 Socioeconomics &  Politics

n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Managed Care Contracting: Contract Review and MCO Performance Evaluation 
William T. Barrick, MD

n ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/PAC
Health Care the Focus of Domestic Agenda, Medicare Cuts Loom 
Jeffrey J. Wise, MD
 

n CODING Q & A
Coding Help is a Mouse Click Away 
Donna M. Lahey, RNFA
 

 NASS News