Today’s Top Story
SGR repeal bills introduced in House and Senate with bipartisan support.
Medscape reports that a bipartisan coalition has introduced identical bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and avoid an approximate 21 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement scheduled to take effect April 1. If enacted, the legislation would increase physician pay by 0.5 percent during the second half of 2015 and each year from 2016 through 2019. The bill includes incentives to shift Medicare reimbursement from fee-for-service to pay-for-performance. In addition, the proposal would merge many of Medicare’s incentive programs to reduce their burden on physician practices. Read more…(registration may be required)
Read more in AAOS Advocacy Now…
    In response, Frederick M. Azar, MD, president of AAOS stated “The AAOS commends congressional leadership for introducing legislation to permanently repeal and replace the SGR formula. We appreciate the tremendous effort leadership and committees have put into SGR reform and urge Congress to enact a permanent solution before the current patch expires.” Read more…

Other News

CMS releases draft regulations for stage 3 meaningful use.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released draft regulations to add a third and final stage to the agency’s meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR) program. In most instances, physicians and other eligible professionals will be required to conform to the rules by 2018. Under separate regulations proposed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, EHR software would undergo a certification process to ensure that it can perform the functions called for under the meaningful use program. Comments on the proposals are due May 29. Read more…(registration may be required)
Read the proposed meaningful use rule (PDF)…
Read the proposed certification rule (PDF)…

Senate budget proposal does not seek to partially privatize Medicare.
The U.S. Senate has released a budget proposal that contains a number of similarities to a House proposal released earlier this week. Among other things, both proposals seek to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut spending on Medicaid over 10 years, with the funding rechanneled into block grants to state governments. However, while the House budget outline seeks to partially privatize Medicare by offering future recipients voucherlike “premium support” to help pay for private insurance, the Senate draft contains no such language. Read more…
Read the Senate proposal (PDF)…

Study: A blood test to diagnose early-stage OA?
According to information from a United Kingdom study published online in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, it may be possible to develop a blood test to help diagnose osteoarthritis (OA). The research team used mass spectrometry to quantify citrullinated protein (CP) and free hydroxyproline in body fluids. They found increased CP levels in patients with early-stage OA and early-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, they found that anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies were predominantly present among patients with early-stage RA. The research team developed a 4-class diagnostic algorithm that combined plasma/serum CP, anti-CCP antibody, and hydroxyproline and found that it gave specific and sensitive detection and discrimination of early-stage OA, early-stage RA, other non-RA inflammatory joint diseases, and good skeletal health. Read more…
Read the complete study…

DEA issues warning on abuse of potent opioid.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a nationwide alert regarding the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues/compounds. Fentanyl is a Schedule II narcotic used as an analgesic and anesthetic. According to DEA, it is the most potent opioid available for use in medical treatment—50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. The agency states that the current outbreak involves not just fentanyl, but also fentanyl analogues. Fentanyl is potentially lethal, even at very low levels, and is commonly laced in heroin. DEA warns that fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or through accidental inhalation of airborne powder. Read more…

Study: Physician race and social biases may have little effect on clinical decision making.
Data from a study published online in the journal JAMA Surgery suggest that physician class and racial biases may not be significantly associated with clinical decision making among acute care surgical clinicians. The researchers conducted a web-based survey of 215 clinicians who reviewed clinical vignettes designed to assess the relationship between unconscious bias and clinical decision making. They found that implicit race and social biases were present in most respondents, but multivariable analyses revealed no association between the Implicit Association Test differential response times and vignette-based clinical assessments. Read more…
Read the abstract…

Help build a Safe and Accessible Playground in Las Vegas.
Join the AAOS on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, for the 16th annual Safe and Accessible Playground Build. This year’s project will take place at Palabra Viva Las Vegas church, starting at 8:30 a.m., and concluding with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Be a playground build sponsor or register as a build day volunteer. No experience is necessary to take part in this fun and rewarding activity! Learn more and register…

Call for volunteers: Evaluation Committees.
Several positions are currently open on AAOS Evaluation Committees. Members of evaluation committees write questions for the self-assessment examinations. The following openings are available:

  • Anatomy-Imaging (two members—hand and wrist; two members—tumors; March 31 deadline)
  • Hip, Knee & Adult Reconstruction (four members; April 3)
  • Shoulder & Elbow (one member; March 31)

Applicants for these positions must be active fellows, emeritus fellows, or candidate member applicant for fellowship with a practice emphasis in the relevant area. Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)