AAOS Advocacy in Action

AAOS Joins Coalition to Comment on Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage
On March 7, AAOS signed on to the Regulatory Relief Coalition’s comments on the annual Medicare Advantage (MA) proposed rule focusing on the request for information on prior authorization  These comments highlight that while asking for stakeholder input on onerous prior authorization requirements is a positive step, such requirements have caused delays in discharging patients to post-acute care settings, thereby leading to bed shortages, especially when considering the impact the pandemic has had on the health care system. The comments also note the burden the U.S. health care system has faced throughout the pandemic and urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to broaden its inspection and monitor MA plans’ use of prior authorization requirements beyond the public health emergency. Read the comments here...

Healthcare Policy News

MedPAC Proposes Payment Updates in 2022 Report 
On March 15^th, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its March 2022 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. In this report MedPAC included an analysis of payment adequacy in traditional fee-for-service Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and the prescription drug benefit (Part D). Additionally, MedPAC addressed four legislative mandates covering issues such as payment adjustment and recent changes to the home health system.  Among notable recommendations, per current law, the Commission recommends no updates for clinicians paid under the physician fee schedule and for ambulatory surgery centers. AAOS strongly disagrees with this recommendation and will continue to urge Congress to reverse mandated cuts to physician payments and update current law to rectify the broken Medicare reimbursement system. Read the full press release here…

Biden Signs Omnibus Legislation Funding Government Through September
On Tuesday, March 15, President Biden signed a $1.5 trillion spending package into law that will fund the government through September and supply $14 billion in emergency funding to Ukraine. The bill initially included $15.6 billion for pandemic response but was stripped after dozens of members opposed a part of the provision that would allow the federal government to pay for the package using unallocated COVID-19 relief money from state governments. The bill also includes a broad extension of telehealth flexibilities for 151 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. The extensions will continue to eliminate Medicare originating site and geographic restrictions, maintain the expansion of practitioners that are eligible to provide services though telehealth, and allow for audio-only telehealth appointments. The AAOS has endorsed five pieces of legislation with similar provisions, and although we are thankful to see telehealth addressed in the omnibus legislation, we will continue to advocate to make these flexibilities permanent. Read more about our telehealth advocacy here.

Energy and Commerce Committee Listens to AAOS, Holds Hearing on Cures 2.0 Legislation

Days after the AAOS sent a letter to Energy & Commerce Committee leadership asking them to hold a hearing on the AAOS-endorsed Cures 2.0 legislation, the Health Subcommittee announced they will do just that. In the letter, AAOS voiced support for many provisions within the 173 paged Cures 2.0 legislation, including language aimed at broadening telehealth flexibilities, expanding research funding, increasing the diversity of participants in clinical trials, promoting the use of evidence-based guidelines, and establishing the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The hearing, entitled “The Future of Medicine: Legislation to Encourage Innovation and Improve Oversight,” will be held on March 17 and is the crucial next step in passing Cures 2.0. In our letter, the AAOS asked the Committee to hold a hearing markup on the bipartisan legislation and include it in any moving package.

State Corner

Indiana Passes Truth in Advertising Law
A new measure, signed on March 15 by Gov. Eric Holcomb, aims to improve transparency for patients by prohibiting deceptive advertising used to promote the services of health care professionals. Last year, a survey found that one out of every four Hoosiers was not confident what type of medical professional they saw the past few years. The effort is an initiative of the Indiana Physician Coalition, including the Indiana Orthopaedic Society, which is a statewide alliance of medical associations and specialty societies that advocates for physician-led, team-based health care to protect patients from harm, increase access to quality care and control health care spending. Such confusion, the coalition believes, is caused by the “alphabet soup” of abbreviations that are often used to identify members of the health care team: MD, DO, APRN, NP, CRNA, PA, DNP, etc. The new law requires identification based on license type, such as physician, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, physician assistant, and others that are more recognizable. Passage of the bill also limits the use of medical specialty designations to physician specialists, such as orthopedist. Read the bill.

Visit the OrthoPAC Booth at the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting
The OrthoPAC is looking forward to an eventful AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting. We invite you to visit us at OrthoPAC booth #1226 in the Exhibit Hall. The booth will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 9-5 p.m. CDT, and Friday from 9-3 p.m. CDT. Staff from the AAOS Office of Government Relations will be at the booth to speak with attendees about our political program and advocacy efforts. AAOS leaders from the OrthoPAC Executive Committee and the BOC will also be present. Did you contribute to the PAC in 2021 or 2022? Come find your name on the donor wall and visit the Donor Lounge; where all 2021 and 2022 PAC donors can grab a snack, beverage, or relax and recharge. We’re looking forward to seeing all of you and celebrating the achievements of the past year, as well as the 50^th anniversary of the BOC! Learn more about OrthoPAC events at the Annual Meeting...

·        Millions Will Lose Medicaid Coverage When the COVID-19 Emergency Ends. Healthcare Groups Are Scrambling to Fill Gaps  (Morning Consult, March 15)

·        Shalanda Young becomes first Black woman to lead White House budget office following Senate confirmation (CNN, March 15)

·        Consumers Emphasize Insurer Role in High Healthcare Spending (HealthPayer Intelligence, March 7)