Implications of the Supreme Court Ruling on Medicaid

Jordan Apfeld, BA; Andrew Han; Tyler Stern; Hassan Mir, MD; William T. Obremskey, MD, MPH; A. Alex Jahangir, MD; Manish K. Sethi, MD

Jordan Apfeld, BA; Andrew Han; Tyler Stern; Hassan Mir, MD; William T. Obremskey, MD, MPH; A. Alex Jahangir, MD; and Manish K. Sethi, MD The recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) included a ruling on the use of Medicaid to increase the number of Americans with healthcare coverage.

Physician Champions in Congress

David Bumpass, MD

As Congress continues to debate healthcare reform, a small group of representatives and senators who are also physicians have banded together to champion the perspective of doctors and patients. Currently, 20 physicians hold seats in Congress—16 representatives, three senators, and one delegate. This is an increase from 16 physicians in the previous Congress, a trend that current physician members hope continues. U.S. Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-Ga.

AAOS Unveils New Legislative Action Center

The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) office of government relations (OGR) has upgraded its grassroots efforts with Capwiz, a software package from the Congressional Quarterly. This new system will enable AAOS members to send targeted messages to their Congressional representatives with just a few clicks. The Capwiz website (http://capwiz.com/aaos/home) will be updated regularly to keep AAOS members informed about the latest happenings on Capitol Hill.

Know What CMS Is Saying About Your Performance

From September 4, 2012 to October 3, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct a “dry run” of the following new hospital-level performance measures for elective total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA):  Risk-Standardized Complication Rates Following THA and/or TKA 30-Day All-Cause Risk-Standardized Readmission Rates Following Elective Primary THA and/or TKA Because  these measures are hospital-based, data will be shared with hospitals, not

How—and Why—to Host a Political Fundraiser

Steven B. Wertheim, MD

By now orthopaedic surgeons should understand the importance of providing input to politicians—in Washington, D.C., and our home states—as they make decisions affecting the future of our profession.

AAOS Fellows Testify before Congress

Madeleine Lovette

Changes in the ever-evolving U.S. healthcare delivery system can be attributed to a variety of economic, political, technologic, and demographic factors. Policymakers, therefore, are dependent on physicians to communicate how healthcare policy reforms and health system realignment have affected their practices and what alterations need to be made to improve care delivery.

Making the Case for In-office Ancillary Services

Ashlen Anderson

Physician ownership of in-office ancillary services (IOAS), specifically in-office imaging and integrated physical therapy services, has been under scrutiny for several years. A new study published online in the journal Health Economics Review uses the example of orthopaedic surgeons to examine the tradeoffs associated with IOAS, particularly with regard to the benefits of integrating clinical services versus the potential for overutilization of certain IOAS.

AAOS Leaders Attend White House Meeting

Madeleine Lovette

In early June, AAOS First Vice-President Joshua J. Jacobs, MD; Second Vice-President Frederick M. Azar, MD; and Council on Advocacy Chair Peter J. Mandell, MD, attended a physician town hall hosted by the Obama White House. The topic of discussion was the benefits and potential barriers to care improvement presented by the passage and implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

New Medicare Audit Reporting Tool

Orthopaedic surgeons who participate in Medicare may have experienced a claims audit of orthopaedic procedures—particularly total joint replacement procedures. Sometimes the audit results in an overpayment request, which requires the practice to refund payment for a specific claim to Medicare.