ACOs: New models for care and compensation

Alexandra E. Page, MD

Will shared savings or bundling replace fee-for-service? Establishing the role of an orthopaedic surgeon and other specialists in an integrated system, such as an accountable care organization (ACO), is complex and actively evolving. The previous article in this series (“ACOs: The future of health care delivery?” AAOS Now, October 2010), outlined the fundamental components of an ACO. Beyond meeting those requirements, however, significant latitude in organizing an ACO exists.

Health insurance exchanges

Adrian J. Thomas, MD; Manish K. Sethi, MD; A. Alex Jahangir, MD; Alok D. Sharan, MD; Samir A. Mehta, MD; the Washington Health Policy Fellows

What are they and how will they affect orthopaedics? In March 2010, President Obama signed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (PPACA) with the goal of ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Under the PPACA, each state must establish a health insurance exchange by 2014 to help individuals and small employers obtain and maintain coverage.

The SGR in 2010: Another cliffhanger

Joseph Weistroffer, MD

By Joseph Weistroffer, MD For the fourth time this year, physicians are pushed to the edge Nov. 30, 2010, is an important day for physicians. That’s when the current short-term “fix” to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula expires. Without legislative action, physicians can expect a 23.5 percent decrease in Medicare reimbursement beginning Dec. 1. Considering that the House has recessed until Nov. 15, and the Thanksgiving holidays are Nov.

Second Look—Advocacy

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.

It’s time to choose

Matthew Twetten

As this issue of AAOS Now goes to press, Congress is in recess and physicians face a 23.3 percent cut in the Medicare physician payment conversion factor on Dec. 1. Unless Congress acts quickly when it returns on Nov. 15, an additional 6.2 percent cut will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. Orthopaedic surgeons now have the opportunity to declare Medicare participation status.