Healthcare Policy in 2016

Catherine Boudreaux

2016 was a year of important wins for healthcare policy. In the wake of the repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Office of Government Relations worked hard to continue to ensure physicians would still be able to prioritize patient needs over government regulation.

CMS Issues Advancing Care Coordination Final Rule

Elizabeth Fassbender

On Dec. 20, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule that will, according to CMS, "continue the Administration's progress to shift Medicare payments from rewarding quantity to rewarding quality by creating strong incentives for hospitals to deliver better care to patients at a lower cost."

Advocacy at the Annual Meeting – Mark Your Calendar!

izabeth Fassbender; Stacie Monroe

With a new administration and new Congress, 2017 promises to be a busy year for healthcare reform. Whether you are elated or deflated by the 2016 election results, many legislative and regulatory issues central to orthopaedic practice and the orthopaedic profession as a whole are at stake. Mark your calendars and plan to take advantage of the following advocacy opportunities at the 2017 Annual Meeting.