| |
| Your AAOS
AAOS Leadership to Share Perspective on Tomorrow’s CMS Stakeholder Call
AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, and First Vice President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, will share their perspective during a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stakeholder call, “Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19,” tomorrow, May 1, at 12:30 p.m. E.S.T These calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma; Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD; and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Other topics will include CMS and FDA updates, reopening the healthcare system, and treating vulnerable populations via telehealth.
Learn more and join the call… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Action Alert: Fight Against Surprise Medical Billing Continues During COVID-19 Pandemic
During this time of crisis, AAOS is focused on advocacy goals that will help keep orthopaedic surgeons and your patients safe and practices open. Unfortunately, some in Congress are trying to use the pandemic to sneak through a federal benchmark for out-of-network medical bills. Surprise medical billing can be stopped and patients can be protected with a proven market-based approach, like New York-style independent dispute resolution, and AAOS stands ready to support such a broadly supported solution. However, now is not the time for Congress to be having this debate. Ask Congress to instead focus on supporting physicians with desperately needed personal protective equipment and financial support, not handing health insurers a free pass on building the robust networks that patients deserve.
Learn more and contact your legislator… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| AAOS Summary of COVID-19 Grant and Loan Programs
AAOS created a resource describing all of the COVID-19 grant and loan programs in one spot. Summaries include the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, Paycheck Protection Program, Main Street Lending program, Provider Relief Fund, and more.
Read more… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| In Other News
CMS Pens Open Letter to MIPS Clinicians
CMS wrote a letter to clinicians explaining how those who participate in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) may be eligible to earn credit in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2020 performance period. Clinicians who wish to earn MIPS credit must attest to the new COVID-19 clinical trials improvement activity. After fulfilling the activity criteria, eligible clinicians may submit data directly to CMS or log in to the QPP portal during the 2020 MIPS data submission period and attest “yes” to performing the activity.
Read the letter… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Additional Provider Relief Fund Payments Available
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began distributing the remaining $20 billion to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19. The initial $30 billion was issued earlier this month.
Read the HHS press release… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| COBRA Insurance Deadline Extended
The Department of Labor extended the deadline for patients laid off due to COVID-19 to file for COBRA. Rather than having only 60 days to file, those eligible now have until Aug. 28 to decide whether to file.
Read more… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Study Reflects on Accelerated Implementation of Telemedicine Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
A study published online in the Journal of the AAOS ® shared one orthopaedic surgery department’s experience with rapid implementation and introduction of telemedicine. To successfully implement this program in a five-day period, the study authors cite the need for attention to patient triage, technological resources, credentialing, education of providers and patients, scheduling, and regulatory considerations.
Read the abstract… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Additional News
Op-ed: Return to Delayed Elective Surgeries Will be Slow
In an opinion piece published online in The Hill, Adam Bruggeman, MD, a spine surgeon in Texas and a member of AAOS’ Board of Councilors, explained the barriers he sees to returning to elective surgery.
Read more… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| HHS Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal
HHS launched its COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, which allows healthcare providers to submit reimbursement claims if they provided COVID-19 testing or treatment for uninsured patients on or after Feb. 4.
Read the HHS press release… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland to Establish COVID-19 Unit at Baltimore Convention Center
Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland are teaming up to create a COVID-19 recovery unit at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Read more… |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| Webinar: New Orthopaedic Training Modalities and Overcoming Barriers to Adoption
AAOS Vice Chair of the Resident Assembly Stephanie Stopka Pearce, MD, will speak during an upcoming webinar, “New Orthopaedic Training Modalities and Overcoming Barriers to Adoption,” on May 6, at 11 a.m. E.ST.
Register for the webinar… |
| |
|
