Dr. Price Nominated to HHS Secretary, House Passes Innovation and Research Legislation
For questions or concerns on these or other advocacy issues, contact the Office of Government Relations at dc@aaos.org.
 
Orthopaedic Surgeon Tom Price Nominated to Secretary of HHS On November 29, 2016, president-elect Donald Trump named Chairman Tom Price, MD, (R-GA) to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Dr. Price is an orthopaedic surgeon and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005. Price is chairman of the Committee on the Budget in the House of Representatives. He also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee – including the Subcommittee on Health. Prior to going to Washington, Price served four terms in the Georgia State Senate – two as Minority Whip. Click here to read more.
Share holiday safety tips with your patients
T’is the season to be jolly, and injury-free! Just in-time for the busy holidays, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers safety tips for your patients and encourages you to share our holiday safety infographic on social media using hashtag #ANationInMotion.

View larger infographic

Click below to share:

For more information, visit OrthoInfo.org.
House Passes 21st Century Cures Act to Improve Innovation and Research  Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century Cures Act by a vote of 392-26. The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) commends members of Congress for passing this bipartisan legislation to accelerate innovation, boost research, and modernize physician practices, all of which will advance patient care exponentially.

“AAOS applauds the House of Representatives for passing this bipartisan and forward-looking legislation,” stated Thomas C. Barber, MD, Chair of the AAOS Council on Advocacy. “Specifically, AAOS commends the focus on improving electronic health records and interoperability, enhancing the flow of patient information by preventing interference in information exchange, and encouraging important research and device approval efforts. These provisions will help support coordinated care and improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care delivery. AAOS thanks members of Congress for this important investment in our nation’s health and we look forward to Senate passage so this legislation can be enacted as soon as possible.”

Click here to read more.
AMA House of Delegates – Interim Meeting 2016 AAOS delegate members met in Orlando, Florida from November 11-15, 2016 for the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) Interim meeting. The HOD is the legislative and policymaking body of the AMA and is composed of elected representatives and others. During this meeting the AAOS introduced and successfully passed a resolution titled, “Support for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs).” The resolution resolved to continue to encourage Congress to assure that the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER) and/or similar programs be fully funded to allow state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to remain viable and active. The resolution also resolved to work to assure that interstate operability of PDMPs function in a manner that allows data to be easily accessed by physicians and does not place an onerous burden on their practices. The resolution was co-sponsored by the North American Spine Society, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and Kansas. Click here to read more.
Free Webinar on the Quality Payment Program (QPP)

This webinar outlines the impact that the Quality Payment Program (QPP) will have on small orthopaedic practices, provides insight into the incentive payment provisions under MACRA and summarizes the potential cost to your practice for non-compliance. Faculty also discuss the Clinical Practice Improvement Activity (CPIA) and Advancing Care Initiative (ACI) categories of QPP.

You’ll cover:

  • Impact on Small/Solo Orthopaedic Practice – John Cherf, MD, MPH, MBA
  • Cost of Non-Compliance – Brian McCardel, MD
  • Clinical Practice Improvement Activities – Craig Mahoney, MD
  • Advancing Care Information – Thomas Mason, MD, Guest Speaker from the ONC

Register online for this free event:  Quality Payment Program: 2017 and Beyond Monday, December 12 Or call AAOS Customer Service at  1-800-626-6726  |  +1-847-823-7186
Deadline Extended to Review CMS Data – Now December 7, 2016

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted information online that allows physicians to view whether they will be subject to 2017 payment penalties associated with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and the Value Modifier. Practices that have concerns now have until December 7, 2016 to file for an informal review of their data. PQRS penalties are being communicated to physicians by mail as well as in the PQRS feedback reports posted on the CMS website. Value Modifier penalties and bonuses can be found in Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) posted on the website only. Click here to read more.
What We’re Reading GOP May Delay Obamacare Replacement for Years, Politico, 12/1/16 Nancy Pelosi Beats Back House Democratic Leadership Challenge, The New York Times, 11/30/16 Push for Quick Medicare Overhaul Worries U.S. Senate Republicans, Bloomberg Politics, 11/30/16

Getting Obamacare Replacement Through Senate Will Be a Test, The Wall Street Journal, 11/30/16

Cures Research Package Draws Strong Bipartisan Vote, Roll Call, 11/30/16

Anthem’s Cigna Takeover May Draw $3 Billion Blue Cross Fine, Bloomberg, 11/30/16

CMS Nominee Set Up Indiana’s Unusual Medicaid Expansion, The Washington Post, 11/29/16

Sanders, Warren Stir Dem Turmoil Over Cures Bill, The Hill, 11/29/16

Levin to Resign as Top Democrat on House Tax Writing Panel, The Washington Post, 11/29/16

Budget Chairmanship Suddenly Up For Grabs, The Hill, 11/29/16

CMS’ Star Ratings For Hospitals Linked to Social, Economic Factors, Modern Healthcare, 11/28/16

Obamacare Repeal Could Kill Payment Reforms, Washington Examiner, 11/27/16

What New Jersey’s Proposed Out-of-Network Cap Would Do To Hospital Margins, Modern Healthcare, 11/22/16