Orthopaedic surgeons take on Congress

G. Jake Jaquet; Nick Piatek

Healthcare reform gains momentum in Washington, D.C. More than 300 orthopaedic surgeons from across the country met in Washington, D.C., April 29–May 2, for the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC). Attendees participated in nearly 100 face-to-face meetings with members of Congress and their staffs to educate, express concern, and raise the profile of the orthopaedic community in the healthcare debate.

NVOS battles to protect reforms

Fred Redfern, MD; Kathleen Conaboy

Set against the backdrop of relentless negative publicity directed at all doctors due to an outbreak of hepatitis C at an endoscopy center in southern Nevada, the Nevada Orthopaedic Society (NVOS) has been an integral part of a coalition to save medical malpractice tort reforms.

Hawaii legislature advances medical tort reforms

Linda J. Rasmussen, MD

AAOS grant helped push bill through House Hawaii may be paradise for vacationers, but not for physicians. Island doctors are leaving at an alarming rate, citing low insurance reimbursements and increasing numbers of medical liability lawsuits. The result is that patient access to health care continues to decline. Between 2006 and 2008, the number of practicing physicians in Hawaii decreased by 6 percent.

AAOS Act of 2009: A top priority for NOLC visits

Nick Piatek

When attendees of the 2009 National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC) went to visit their Congressional representatives, they took the opportunity to promote the “Access to America’s Orthopaedic Services (AAOS) Act of 2009.” The proposal is aimed at improving research, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, conditions, and injuries.

NOLC applauds Congressional leaders

Nick Piatek

On April 30, the NOLC presented awards to five members of Congress, in recognition of their continued support of orthopaedic surgeons. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Gene Green (D-Texas), sponsors of the “Access to America’s Orthopaedic Services Act of 2009 (AAOS Act),” were recognized for their active support of improving awareness of musculoskeletal conditions and increasing support for musculoskeletal research in the House of Representatives. Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-Ga.), and Sen.

Second Look – Reimbursement & Regulation

If you missed these Headline News Now items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. 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. Medicare fund insolvent by 2017 According to an annual report released by the U.S.