Advocacy in Action

AAOS Submits Comments on Inpatient Payment Rule

Last week, the AAOS submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. Major proposed changes that AAOS provided feedback and guidance to the Agency on included future inclusion of Hospital-Level, Risk Standardized Patient Reported Outcomes Measure Following Elective Primary Total Hip and/or Total Knee Arthroplasty (NQF #3559) to the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, updates to quality data reporting methods as it relates to interoperability initiatives, improving health equity within CMS hospital quality programs, and guidance on the stewardship of additional Medicare-funded residency slots. Proposals made in the IPPS rule generally signal the direction of the Agency for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rules, which are expected to be released in the coming days. Stay tuned for updates on those rules and read the comment letter…

Help Recruit for New Patient Advocacy Program

The AAOS is requesting assistance recruiting patients for its new Patient Advocacy Program. The program is designed to capture patient stories on key policy issues impacting the musculoskeletal community which can be used to support efforts on Capitol Hill Patients’ time commitment is minimal and may include the opportunity for annual in-person visits with member of Congress in Washington, D.C.. AAOS members can learn more about the 2021 program in this webinar recorded by Advocacy Council Chair Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS. If you are interested in helping to recruit the next generation of musculoskeletal advocates, please let us know on the program webpage or have your patient fill out a Patient Advocacy Intake Form. Learn more about the program…

Webinar Tonight: Prior Authorizations, Peer to Peer Review

Prior authorizations on procedures can be a cumbersome process. Each payer may have different policies and guidelines on which procedures require prior authorization, making it difficult for physicians and their staff to keep track of changing policies. Tonight’s webinar from 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM CT presented by Eric Stiefel, MD, FAAOS, and Christopher Kauffman, MD, FAAOS, will go over in detail the burden prior authorizations and peer-to-peer review process takes on physicians, as well as strategies to work through these hurdles. Register for the webinar…

Healthcare Policy News

First Rule Banning Surprise Medical Bills is Released

The first part of the regulations implementing the No Surprises Act, which was signed into law at the end of 2020, have been released by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury. The rule follows more than two years of AAOS advocacy to remove patients from the middle of out-of-network billing disputes and ensure that physicians can access an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process for resolving payment issues as opposed to a federal rate-setting benchmark. Hospitals, providers, and insurers will all be required to meet new standards for the disclosure of information regarding a patient’s insurance status and estimated cost-sharing for non-emergent care. While this Part I regulation lays out processes and rules for preventing unexpected out-of-network bills for emergent and scheduled care, the mechanics of the IDR process will be addressed in a forthcoming Part II regulation. The rules will take effect on January 1, 2022. Learn more with the AAOS rule summary…

Congress Releases 2022 Spending Bills Ahead of Aug. Recess

This month, Congress continues to sprint towards the August recess by releasing a flurry of fiscal year (FY) 2022 spending bills. All of the action currently lies in the U.S. House with six funding bills already sent to the floor: Agriculture/Food and Drug Administration, Financial Services and General Government, Interior-Environment, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and State and Foreign Operations. Two measures have already been approved by their subcommittees: Defense and Homeland Security. Text for four other bills, however, has yet to debut: Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, Labor-HHS-Education and Transportation and HUD. The AAOS will be closely watching the progress of these bills and will weigh in with congressional champions when orthopaedic-related provisions arise. Learn more about the markup schedule… 

Mark Your Calendars for PAC Events at Annual Meeting

The Orthopaedic PAC and Advocacy teams are gearing up for the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting at the end of August. Per usual, the primary way that members can engage with staff and surgeon advocacy leaders is by visiting the OrthoPAC Booth located in Exhibit Hall. While at the booth, they can learn more about what the Office of Government Relations is doing to advance musculoskeletal care and meet with colleagues who are passionate about healthcare policy, including representatives from the Board of Councilors. OrthoPAC members can pick up their 2021 lapel pin or ribbon at the booth and have the opportunity to relax at the exclusive PAC Donor Lounge. Additionally, 2020 and 2021 donors are invited to attend the annual luncheon on Wednesday, September 1 and hear from an intriguing speaker selected by PAC Chair John T. Gill, MD, FAAOS. Finally, members are encouraged to attend the 5th Annual PAC Resident Leadership reception to support and network with our residents, alongside colleagues that are influential advocacy leaders. Join the PAC Executive Committee, the BOC, the BOS, and the Resident Assembly for drinks, food, and great company. A $5 monthly recurring PAC donation is suggested for drink tickets for residents, and a $150 PAC donation is suggested for Active Fellows. Join the OrthoPAC today…

·        AAOS Leverages Grassroots Advocacy to Benefit Members (AAOS Now, June)

·        Orthopaedic PAC Supports Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus (AAOS Now, June)

·        New UnitedHealth policy ends some non-emergency coverage (Modern Healthcare, 7/2)

·        Doctor acquisitions spiked amid the pandemic (Axios, 6/29)

·        Virtual care becomes a common cause in a divided Congress (Modern Healthcare, 6/30)