2009: A favorable year for orthopaedic payment updates—II

John Cherf, MD, MPH, MBA; Kathleen Cox

Last month, we discussed the changes made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System that affect orthopaedics. This month, we review the fiscal year (FY) 2009 program updates to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment Program, and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS).

Medicare: Running out of time and money

James B. Rickert, MD

The crisis is coming—with no easy fix in sight The early months of 2009 have drawn us much closer to the heart of our nation’s looming Medicare crisis. In January, President Barack Obama told reporters, “The big problem is Medicare, which is unsustainable…This, by the way, is where there are going to be very difficult choices and issues of sacrifice and responsibility and duty.”

AAOS takes stance on bundled payments and gainsharing

Jacque Roche

By Jacque Roche Position statement outlines necessary safeguards Increasing healthcare costs are prompting federal policymakers and payors to investigate and implement various types of incentive programs designed to help control the cost of delivering care. “Episode of care” bundled payment initiatives and gainsharing arrangements between hospitals and physicians are just two examples of these new programs.