Welcome to the Senate, Dr. Barrasso!

Carolyn Rogers

Wyoming orthopaedist makes history “Thank God every day that you live in the United States.” That’s the advice that John A. Barrasso, MD, remembers receiving from his father, a World War II veteran who saw action at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. In tribute, Dr. Barrasso carried his father’s dog tags with him as he was sworn into office as a U.S. Senator on Monday, June 25. Vice President Dick Cheney, a former Wyoming congressman, administered the oath.

Specialists call for testing, evaluation of quality measures

Alliance of Specialty Medicine poll shows concern about effectiveness, impact of current programs Nearly 85 percent of medical specialists responding to a poll said that the quality reporting measures in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) must be tested and evaluated before the program is expanded or made permanent.

Medicare reporting program must truly promote quality

Kate Mevis

AAOS requests that members of Congress introduce and support “The Voluntary Medicare Quality Reporting Act of 2007” During the past year, a legislative provision in the “The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2007” (TRHCA) formalized the concept of pay-for-performance. Signed into law in December 2006, TRHCA codified the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), which went into effect on July 1, 2007.

AAOS reports on proposed revisions to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

the AAOS Washington Office

On July 12, 2007, the proposed rule for the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule appeared in the Federal Register. The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) will be submitting comments (due on August 31, 2007) on many of the important areas. The AAOS also is taking action in the legislative arena to address the negative impact of specific provisions.

Stem cells in orthopaedic surgery

Alok D. Sharan, MD; James W. Genuario, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Ryan M. Nunley, MD; the Washington Health Policy Fellows

As individuals grow older and lead more active lifestyles, orthopaedic surgeons are increasingly being called on to use their surgical techniques to improve patients’ quality of life. Earlier solutions to orthopaedic disorders required the use of instrumentation to improve the mechanical environment for orthopaedic tissues. Newer research has aimed to improve the biologic environment for healing.