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AAOS News
Presidential Webinar Discusses Payment Reductions for 2022
In a webinar recorded earlier this week, AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, and AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, explain upcoming reductions to Medicare reimbursement and changes to the process for resolving surprise medical bills beginning Jan. 1, 2022. They discuss how these two major policy changes will impact patient access to musculoskeletal care, what the AAOS has been doing to preserve the value of surgical services, and how members can support these efforts into the next year. Webinar viewers will better understand the sources of the Medicare payment reductions, learn about the new regulations intended to implement the “No Surprises Act”, know AAOS’ position and history of advocacy on both issues, and explore opportunities to help fight the cuts and ensure a fair arbitration process. Watch the webinar…
Comments on Surprise Billing Regulations Almost Finalized
Efforts to ensure that Surprise Billing regulations are executed as intended by Congress are reaching a turning point. The comment period for the Part II Interim Final Rule (see AAOS summary) will close on December 6, after which the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury, as well as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), have until Jan. 1, 2022, to make changes before the rule takes effect. AAOS has been meeting with tri-agency/OPM staff and lawmakers, working in coalitions, and drafting its comments to ensure that the rules protect patients and guarantee that physicians have access to a fair and independent dispute resolution process with payors. Meanwhile, HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Office of Health Policy recently released a report outlining the robust patient protections of the rule. Importantly, the report stresses that the positive protections and the consequent impacts on physicians from the rule are not yet known. Read the report… |
