1.         Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Impacts In-House Imaging Services

Starting next year, doctors who refer Medicare and Medicaid patients to in-house imaging machines—MRIs, CT or PET scans—will be legally required to disclose in writing that they own the equipment.  Further, they will also have to inform their patients they can get imaging services elsewhere, and provide a list of 10 alternative sites located within 25 miles, if such sites exist.  The rule will take effect in 2011 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The rule change comes amid a growing debate over self-referrals.  The argument for this new rule comes largely from radiologists and some observers who think there is a conflict of interest in self-referrals.  The argument against it comes from orthopedic surgeons, urologists, cardiologists, and other specialists who have purchased imaging equipment and believe that the efficiency and immediacy of self-conducted imaging is too great a benefit for patients to forfeit.

In a recent USA Today article about the controversy, “Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog…said the new disclosure requirement may eventually lead patients to think hard about the financial relationship their doctor has. But in the short term, he said, the law will have little impact. ‘People will still defer to the white coat.’"


2.        Orthopaedic PAC: Advocacy in Action

Thank you to all of our Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC) contributors.

Leading up to the elections in November, the Orthopaedic PAC has begun sending out a monthly insider’s political newsletter to 1k PAC contributors. If you would like more information, please contact Cheka at gage@aaos.org.

With Congress on recess in August, events have slowed down in Washington, DC. However, during August, the Orthopaedic PAC was represented at 13 events in-district. The Orthopaedic PAC encourages members to develop relationships with their members of Congress by attending events in their area. If there are events that AAOS PAC contributors would like to attend locally, please send any information or requests to Cheka Gage at gage@aaos.org.

If you are interested in becoming more active in the Orthopaedic PAC, please contact Cheka Gage at gage@aaos.org or call our toll-free number, 1-877-389-AAOS.