Today’s Top Story
House bill could ease compliance rules for meaningful use.
Modern Healthcare reports that the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce has approved a bill (H.R.3120) that, if enacted, could make meaningful use compliance easier for providers. Currently, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is required to make meaningful use requirements more stringent over time. Under the proposal, the secretary would be granted more discretion to adjust meaningful use requirements so that more providers would be successful and less likely to see payment penalties. Read more…(registration may be required)
Read the bill…
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) sent a letter to the U.S. Congress expressing support for the legislation, explaining that AAOS believes health information technology (HIT) to be “a fundamental component to improving our nation’s health care system” but stating that “current HIT infrastructure does not provide for efficient electronic exchange of patient information and the [meaningful use] program has very ambitious and prescriptive timetables, both of which hinder, instead of aid, physicians’ abilities to provide care to their patients.” Read more in Advocacy Now…
Other News
Studies examine use of TXA in fracture surgery.
Two studies published in the October issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma examine the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in fracture surgery. In the first, the researchers conducted a prospective, randomized trial of 88 patients who underwent acetabular fracture surgery and who were treated with TXA (n = 42) or placebo (n = 46). They found no significant difference across cohorts in transfusion rate, estimated blood loss, or incidence of venous thromboembolism. The researchers suggest that the benefits of TXA may be “overwhelmed by other factors, specifically preoperative anemia and surgical time, which are highly variable in trauma surgery.” Read the abstract…
In the second study, members of the research team conducted a meta-analysis of seven studies and 559 patients who underwent surgical fracture repair. Compared with placebo, they found that use of TXA in fracture surgery was associated with significantly reduced total blood loss, reduced transfusion rate, and decreased hemoglobin drop. They found no significant difference in number of thromboembolic events across groups. Read the abstract…
Study: Humeral head osteonecrosis can occur after ARCS, even with no preoperative evidence of osteonecrosis.
Findings from a study published online in the journal Arthroscopy suggest that surgeons should be aware of the possible development of humeral head osteonecrosis after arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery (ARCS). The authors reviewed data on 24 female patients, all of whom had rapid progressive collapse of the humeral head after ARCS. They found that sudden pain developed at mean 4 months following the index surgery, and rapid progressive collapse of the humeral head occurred within 12 months of the index surgery. The authors found no clear risk factor or evidence supporting an association between ARCS and humeral head osteonecrosis. In addition, they note that 8 of the 24 patients displayed no preoperative evidence of osteonecrosis of the humeral head. Read the abstract…
CMS announces availability of tool for APM participants to verify QP status.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the availability of an interactive look-up tool through which 2017 Advanced Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) participants can look up their qualifying participant (QP) status based on calculations from claims with dates of service between Jan. 1, 2017 and March 31, 2017. Under the Quality Payment Program, eligible clinicians who meet certain criteria are considered QPs in Advanced APMs, and are therefore excluded from the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) quality reporting program. QPs identified based on the 2017 performance year will receive a 5 percent, lump sum Medicare incentive payment in 2019. CMS states that the online tool will be updated soon with calculations from claims with dates of services between Jan. 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017. Access the tool…
Learn more about how QP status is determined (PDF)…
CMS withdraws proposed rule on Medicare Part B demonstration.
CMS has announced the withdrawal of the proposed Medicare Program; Part B Drug Payment Model, also known as the “Part B Demo.” The agency states that as it worked to address concerns received through public comments, “the complexity of the issues related to the proposed model design and the desire to increase stakeholder input led us to the decision to withdraw the March 11, 2016 proposed rule.” Read the withdrawal notice…
FDA updates adverse event reporting dashboard.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a new tool designed to facilitate access to reports of adverse drug reactions. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database contains adverse event reports, medication error reports, and product quality complaints resulting in adverse events. A new FAERS dashboard enables users to search for and organize data by criteria such as drug/biological product, age of patient, type of adverse event, year the adverse event occurred, or within a specific timeframe. In addition to improved search functions, the agency hopes increased transparency will spur the submission of more detailed and complete reports from consumers, healthcare professionals and others. Read more…
Access the FAERS dashboard…
Call for volunteers: Evaluation Committees.
Oct. 19 is the last day to submit your application for a chair position on an Evaluation Committee. Members of Evaluation Committees write questions for Orthopaedic Self-Assessment Examinations. The following openings are available:
- Hand & Wrist
- Shoulder & Elbow
Applicants for these positions must be active or emeritus fellows with a practice emphasis in the relevant topic. Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
