Congress Delivers Cures Legislation to the President

Elizabeth Fassbender

On Dec. 13, 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34) into law. The legislation, which is focused on increasing research dollars for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and streamlining aspects of regulation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), got a last-minute boost from provisions addressing mental health and opioid funding. Before arriving at the president's desk, the bill passed the U.S.

ACOs and Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2017

Neal D. Lintecum, MD

New or different payment processes and structures are common and recurring changes in medicine. One structure that has gained traction recently is the Accountable Care Organization (ACO). In the ACO payment system, the healthcare provider assumes the burden of all health care for a set number of patients. Healthcare providers may provide this care under several organizational forms. Most are centered around primary care providers.

Second Look – Advocacy

These items originally appeared in AAOS Headline News Now, a thrice-weekly enewsletter that keeps AAOS members up to date on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, with links to more detailed information. Subscribe at www.aaos.org/news/news.asp (member login required) The U.S.

The Opioid Epidemic and Orthopaedics: Where Do We Stand?

Terry Stanton

Even as the number of prescriptions for opioid pain medication declines from its peak of about 250 million in 2013, the epidemic of opioid use continues to devastate lives. Some 2 million individuals are afflicted with substance use disorders involving opioids, with approximately 500,000 of them addicted to heroin.

Are You Ready for SHFFT?

Laura Phieffer, MD; Alexandra E. Page, MD; Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA

In a proposed rule announced on July 25, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced three new Episode Payment Models (EPMs) for episodes of care surrounding acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and surgical hip/femur fracture treatment, excluding lower extremity joint arthroplasty (SHFFT).