Medicare payments updated for 6 months

As AAOS Now went to press, Congress passed legislation to replace the scheduled 10.1 percent cut in Medicare physician payments for 2008 with a 0.5 percent payment update through June 30. Because future funds will pay for the increase, Congress must again take action to avert 10+ percent payment cuts to physicians beginning on July 1.

Where do they stand on health care?

By Annie Hayashi, Jennie McKee, Peter Pollack, and Carolyn Rogers In our third report on presidential candidates and their stances on healthcare issues, AAOS Now examines the proposals put forth by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.; former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; and former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.

Bone-graft substitutes in orthopaedic surgery

A. Alex Jahangir, MD; Ryan M. Nunley, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Alok Sharan, MD; the Washington Health Policy Fellows

As the number of products increases, patient safety must remain a top concern Bone grafting is a big business, generating sales of more than $2.5 billion a year.1 Of the more than 3 million musculoskeletal procedures done annually in the United States, about half involve bone grafting with either an autograft or an allograft.2 Worldwide, autografts or allografts are used in approximately 2.2 million orthopaedic procedures annually.

Hawaii is no paradise for patients

Paula Arcena

Access to medical care is a major issue for islands Public forums sponsored by the Hawaii Medical Association (HMA) last year highlighted the problems Hawaii’s residents are facing in accessing medical care. HMA held a series of forums across the state, including various locations on Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu. Legislators, government officials, healthcare industry professionals, and the general public attended, and the events were attended by as many as 175 people.

PQRI in 2008: More measures, still voluntary

Robert H. Haralson, MD, MBA

CMS renews the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative As most physicians know, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has renewed the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) for 2008. The specifications for the 2008 program are similar to those for the 2007 program. The program remains voluntary and will include all of 2008. As under the previous program, participating physicians are eligible to be reimbursed 1.

AAOS kicks off state society membership drive

Because 2008 is a presidential election year, AAOS members can anticipate an increased focus on healthcare issues at the national level as candidates tout their reform proposals. (See “Where do they stand on healthcare?” page 34.) Although the leading presidential candidates are recommending sweeping changes to the healthcare system, many specific issues will continue to be addressed at the state level.

DOJ widens investigation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), through the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has issued subpoenas to two more orthopaedic medical device manufacturers in an ongoing investigation into the relationships between orthopaedic surgeons and other medical professionals and industry. In mid-December, Exactech, Inc., and Wright Medical Group, Inc.

Second Look: Reimbursement & Regulation

If you missed these news items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. Links are available online at www.aaos.org/now. Headline News Now, the AAOS thrice-weekly, online update of news of interest to orthopaedic surgeons, brings you the latest on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, as well as important announcements from AAOS.