FDA Puts Spotlight on Health of Women

Elizabeth Fassbender

The new Health of Women program, under the auspices of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), was launched June 24–25. The program brings together clinicians, researchers, academia, industry, and others to discuss ways to improve the health of women. Specifically, the program will address the availability and consistency of sex-specific information for the safe and effective use of medical devices in women.

Gaining an Edge in the Coming Quality Revolution

Julie Balch Samora, MD, PhD, MPH; David B. Bumpass, MD

A report from the AAOS “Shifting from Volume to Value” course Julie Balch Samora, MD, PhD, MPH, and David B. Bumpass, MD As implementation of the Affordable Care Act rolls forward, physicians face the challenges of new payment models and the introduction of quality metrics as part of insurance reimbursements. To help members meet these challenges, the AAOS recently sponsored a 2-day forum, “Shifting from Volume to Value: Preparing Your Practice for Health Reform.”

Do Your Workers’ Comp Outcomes Measure Up?

J. Mark Melhorn, MD

Workers’ compensation (comp) makes up 20 percent of the general orthopaedist’s practice, 65 percent of a hand surgeon’s practice, and 90 percent of the independent medical examiner’s practice. Although orthopaedists have unique training in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, their formal training in the sciences of epidemiology, biomechanics, ergonomics, impairment evaluation, disability management, workplace prevention, and medical-legal testimony has been limited.

CMS Redesigns Physician Compare Website

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled its redesigned Physician Compare website (www.medicare.gov/physiciancompare), which allows consumers to search and compare physician and other healthcare providers who are enrolled in Medicare. The redesign was undertaken to improve the accuracy and currency of the information as well as the usability and functionality of the site.

ACA Employer-Coverage Mandate Delayed

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) insurance mandate for employers, which would have required companies with 50 or more employees to start offering qualifying health insurance coverage to workers, has been delayed for one year. The mandate had originally been scheduled to go into effect in 2014. “We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively,” stated Mark J.