Early Exposure and Education Increases Likeliness of Orthopaedic Surgeons Supporting Advocacy and Policy Efforts

William Hill, MPH

Advocacy is vital to the future of medicine as a profession. Founded by the Academy in 1997, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons—together with the Office of Government Relations (OGR)—advocates on Capitol Hill throughout the year on behalf of all orthopaedic surgeons. The support of the AAOS Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC), founded in 1999, further bolsters the impact of AAOS’ advocacy and legislative efforts.

Residents Transitioning to Practice Need to Fully Understand the Medical Liability System

Brandon L. Morris, MD

Clinicians practice within a litigious environment, the nature of which varies depending on practice location and subspecialty. Residents who are transitioning from training into practice, therefore, need to be familiar with the medical liability system and how variation in tort protection laws among states may inform their choice of future practice location.

Physician Payment Changes Continue

Elizabeth Fassbender, Esq.

In addition to successfully repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which had long been an AAOS priority, Congress recently made important improvements to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. At the same time, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed annual updates to Medicare payment policies, including a proposed rule that makes changes to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System.