Will President Trump Declare the Opioid Crisis a National Emergency?

Elizabeth Fassbender

On Oct. 26, 2017, President Trump officially declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency. The public health emergency designation was formally made by acting HHS Secretary Eric D. Hargan. This approach is different, as explained below, from what Trump suggested he was pursuing in August. For more on this issue, visit www.aaos.org/Advocacy/FDA.

AAOS Responds to Medicare Rulemaking in 2018

Dena McDonough, PA-C, MHCDS

In recent months, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released four proposed rules and finalized a fifth. While each rule has a particular focus, there were recurring issues about which rules CMS solicited stakeholder input. CMS issued a broad request for guidance on how to relieve the regulatory burden that has heavily impacted physician practice. The current requirements are largely unsustainable, particularly for small, solo, and rural practices.

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). Findings from a survey in PLOS One (online) suggest that many physicians believe overtreatment to be common and often driven by fear of medical liability.

Post-Hurricane Maria: Many Ask, 'How Can I help?'

On Sept. 28, 2017, Hurricane Maria unleashed its Category 4 strength on Puerto Rico and unbridled devastation ensued, leaving much of the island in ruin. Now, a widescale humanitarian effort is managing the aftermath of the storm. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico is similar yet unique when compared to the states. Nearly 3.5 million U.S. citizens live in Puerto Rico. As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans can travel without a passport to and from the continental United States.