The 2012 Presidential Election and Health Care

Allie Obremskey; Vasanth Sathiyakumar, BA; Jordan Apfeld, BA; Alex A. Jahangir, MD; Manish K. Sethi, MD

With the 2012 presidential elections approaching, the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will be a central issue of debate. Signed by President Obama in March 2010, PPACA establishes an individual mandate, creates new restrictions for health insurance companies, and increases federal presence in the national healthcare system.

What’s Behind the SGR Formula?

John M. Froelich, MD; Roshan P. Shah, MD, JD

One of the most confusing subjects of any healthcare reform discussion is the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The SGR formula is used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to control spending by Medicare on physician services. This article aims to demystify the concept and help readers better understand this aspect of U.S. healthcare policy.

Resurgens Orthopaedics goes to Washington, D.C.

Douglas W. Lundy, MD

On April 24–25, 2012, 14 members of Atlanta’s Resurgens Orthopaedics group, traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with selected members of Congress. The leadership of Resurgens Orthopaedics is extensively involved in political advocacy through the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC), the Georgia Orthopaedic Society, and its own independent efforts.

Second Look- Advocacy

CMS delays “Sunshine Act” implementation Modern Physician reported that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act until at least Jan. 1, 2013. The initiative is called for under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and requires drug and device manufacturers to report gifts and payments to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Missouri Hosts Candidate Forum

Brian Treece

The pending U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the impact of a recently passed state law that makes implementing any part of the PPACA a crime will likely keep healthcare issues among the top concerns of Missouri voters in the presidential and congressional elections this November. Missouri could take center stage for another reason as well.

TOA’s Executive Director wins award

Donna Parker, executive director (ED) of the Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA), was honored as the 2012 Executive Director of the Year during the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Ms. Parker was nominated by David Teuscher, MD, past president and legislation chairman of the TOA. In recommending her for the award, Dr. Teuscher said, “Since 1987, Ms. Parker has been the driving force that has made TOA an exemplary state orthopaedic society.

Tennessee Orthopaedic Society awarded top honor

The Tennessee Orthopaedic Society (TOS) was awarded the 2012 State Orthopaedic Society Achievement Award for its successes in the areas of membership recruitment, advocacy, and organizational development. P. Merrill White, MD, TOS president, accepted the award, which was presented during the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC) in Washington, D.C. The annual award honors a state orthopaedic society that has had a measurable impact in addressing problems facing its membership.

AAOS Members Climb Capitol Hill

NOLC provides opportunities to meet legislators, raise issues G.