AAOS Now, April 2013
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Bowles Encourages Grass Roots Participation
Erskine B. Bowles AAOS Now: How would you describe real tort reform? Mr. Bowles: I don’t know if we can get caps on economic damages and all punitive damages. But I know that doctors in hospitals practice defensive medicine. They almost have to with today’s laws, and so we’ve got to have some kind of real tort reform that gives them the freedom to not do that extra test, or require that extra procedure that is an unnecessary addition to the cost.
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Simpson Tells It Like It Is with Humor
Alan K. Simpson AAOS Now: What components must a long-term fiscal fix address? Mr. Simpson: You have to do something with the biggest problem of all, which is health care. It has no cost-containment mechanism. The last estimate on what the “doc-fix” would cost was $140 billion in 10 years, and in 2014, when the cost-cutting is scheduled to begin, Congress won’t do it. They’ll be savaged by veterans, doctors, the business community, and everyone else.
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How Can We Improve the Value Proposition?
The United States is moving into an era that recognizes cost containment as a priority for the healthcare system. But healthcare providers face a dilemma in attempting to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care while containing healthcare costs. This dilemma has resulted in the use of a new buzzword—value—defined as quality divided by cost.
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Kyl: You Have an Obligation to Tell Your Story
Speaking at the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC) luncheon during the 2013 AAOS Annual Meeting, former Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) encouraged orthopaedic surgeons to personally engage their representatives on both sides of the aisle. Simply giving money to the PAC is a good first step, he explained, but it must be coupled with personal engagement. Senator Jon Kyl Sen.
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AAOS Cohosts Congressional Freshman Briefing
Meeting highlights physician concerns Kristin Leighty After the 113th Congress convened, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) cohosted briefing sessions for both the Republican and Democratic freshmen members of Congress. The sessions enabled the new lawmakers to meet representatives from 26 different physician organizations.
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What Do You Know About The Sunshine Act?
The Physician Payment Sunshine Act, part of the healthcare reform bill, was adopted in March 2010. But it wasn’t until February 2013 that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released final regulations to implement that act. (See “What the Sunshine Act brings to light,” AAOS Now, March 2013.