AAOS Advocacy in Action

AAOS led a group of healthcare organizations in sharing support for the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, which would repeal the ban on physician-led hospitals in rural communities.
AAOS is closely monitoring the federal government shutdown as week four comes to a close.

AAOS News

AAOS leads 87 organizations in supporting physician-led hospitals 
AAOS, along with 87 other leading healthcare organizations, sent a letter of support for H.R. 2191/S. 1390, the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act. These bills repeal the ban on physician-led hospitals (PLHs) in rural areas and allow existing PLHs to expand. H.R. 2191 currently has 29 bipartisan cosponsors and S. 1390 currently has nine Republican cosponsors.

Read the letter …

Government shutdown continues into week four

As the shutdown continues, the Senate has again failed to advance a House-passed funding bill for the 11th time earlier this week. Democrats appear to be steadfast in their determination to not vote for the funding bill until they secure an extension of the Affordable Care Act healthcare tax credits. Five Democratic senators will need to break ranks and vote for the bill in order to bring this shutdown to a close. Senate Republican leader John Thune (SD) has left the door open to granting the Democrats a vote on their priorities, but only if they first allow the government to re-open.

State News

AI legislation continues to move forward despite early 2025 setbacks

State-based legislation regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the utilization review process continues to move forward despite setbacks earlier in the year. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania proceeded with decisive legislation regarding transparency around AI systems and the use of algorithms in healthcare centers. This is despite earlier sets back, like in Neveda where legislation (SB128) was vetoed after successfully clearing the legislature, or in states were legislatures failed to pass similar bills—Illinois, Texas, and Maine.

Healthcare Policy News

CMS updates claims processing guidance for shutdown

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its Medicare claims hold guidance to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) as the government shutdown continues. CMS instructed all MACs to lift the hold and process claims with dates of service on or after Oct.1 for services impacted by select expired Medicare payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025. This includes Medicare Physician Fee Schedule claims, among others. CMS has directed all MACs to continue temporarily holding claims for other telehealth services (such as those that CMS cannot confirm are definitively for behavioral and mental health services) and for acute Hospital Care at Home claims.

Learn more …