AJRR completes data collection pilot project

Mary Ann Porucznik

By Mary Ann Porucznik With data on more than 3,600 procedures, AJRR ready for next steps Participating hospitals have been submitting data to the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) for just a few months, but already information on more than 3,600 primary and revision joint replacements has been assembled from eight different reporting sites (Table 1). “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our surgeon and staff champions at each site,” said David G.

Malpractice reform?

David Seligson, MD

Let’s not alter the fundamental principles of the law “All courts shall be open, and every person for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial, or delay.” That’s how Section 14 of the Bill of Rights of the Kentucky Constitution reads.

Medicare Fraud and Abuse 101

Madeleine Lovette

An introduction to the False Claims, Anti-Kickback, Stark, Exclusion, and Civil Monetary Penalty laws Physicians must comply with a multitude of laws on both the federal and state levels.

Is Congress finally listening?

John T. Gill, MD; Madeleine Lovette

Ryan plan reflects many positions held by AAOS It’s no secret that the current Medicare program is on an unsustainable path and that reform is necessary to ensure patient access to medical care. The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) believes that policy makers must undertake a careful review of the program’s components, including healthcare delivery and benefits, payments to providers, and initiatives to contain costs. Earlier this year, the U.S.

Change without confrontation is unlikely

Edward J. Collins, MD

Edward J. Collins, MD Talk to Congress? Dr. Rickert suggests that we, as orthopaedic surgeons and physicians in general, can make recommendations to Congress to change our system for the better. Has he been to the National Orthopedic Leadership Conference or visited Capitol Hill recently? For several years, orthopaedic surgeons have made recommendations on how Congress could change medicine for the better and could resurrect Medicare from failure.

Second Look—Advocacy

If you missed these Headline News Now items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. Headline News Now—the AAOS thrice-weekly, online update of news of interest to orthopaedic surgeons—brings you the latest on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, as well as important announcements from AAOS.

Physicians Face Medicare Cliff

Mary Ann Porucznik; Matthew Twetten

On July 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two proposed rules for 2012 payments under Medicare. The first covered payment policies and rates for physicians and nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) in calendar year (CY) 2012; the second covered the 2012 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).