Medical liability reform and HR 3590

Manish Sethi, MD; A. Alex Jahangir, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Adrian Thomas, MD; Carolyn Hettrich, MD

By Manish Sethi, MD; A. Alex Jahangir, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Adrian Thomas, MD; and Carolyn Hettrich, MD Do medical liability demonstration project awards predict the future direction of reform? The facts surrounding medical liability and the practicing American physician remain causes for concern. According to an analysis of the American Medical Association’s 2007–2008 Physician Practice Information Survey, for every 100 practicing doctors, 95 active malpractice lawsuits exist.

Combat Casualty Care Conference highlights advancements in care

Jamie A. Gregorian, Esq

Andrew N. Pollak, MD, honored for work in advancing orthopaedic research to treat wounded Military surgeons from around the world—including many orthopaedic surgeons—gathered in St. Pete Beach, Fla., this past August for the annual Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care (ATACCC) conference. Among the conference’s highlights was an address by Brig. Gen. Samir Abdullah Hassan, the Iraqi Surgeon General.

ACOs: The future of healthcare delivery?

Alexandra E. Page, MD

AAOS Health Care Systems Committee studies Accountable Care Organizations The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) anticipates fundamental changes to the models of financing and delivering health care in the United States. Changes will start with Medicare, but are predicted to expand to the private sector.

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. DePuy recalls two hip implants DePuy Orthopaedics voluntarily recalled two hip replacement products due to higher-than-expected revision rates.

11/2/10: The president’s D-Day

John T. Gill, MD

Midterm election could change the face of Congress Whether you like Obamacare or loathe it, the election on Nov. 2, 2010, is certain to become a referendum for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and will likely determine if the new healthcare model flourishes or withers on the vine. Few provisions of the new law actually go into effect this year; most major provisions don’t go into effect until 2012 or later. A significant change in the makeup and leadership of the U.

The Orthopaedic PAC: Advocacy in action

Francesca Gage

In 1999, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) established the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC). Since then, the interest and involvement of AAOS fellows in the PAC have steadily increased. During the 2009–2010 election cycle, the Orthopaedic PAC has raised more than $3.3 million, and as of July 30, 2010, it has more than 4,500 contributors. This makes it the largest medical PAC in the United States—exceeding even the American Medical Association’s PAC.