AAOS Advocacy in Action

AAOS Advocacy in Action

	Joined a coalition in asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reinstate the prohibition on step therapy for medications covered under Part B in Medicare Advantage plans.
	Expressed support to Congressional leadership for H.R. 2079, which would remove negative tax implications for funds distributed through the Provider Relief Fund.
	Asked Congress to mitigate the impending end of year cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule through the forthcoming infrastructure package.

The Bone Beat New Episode
Conversations on health policy issues affecting musculoskeletal care…

Save the Date for Orthopaedic Advocacy Week

AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, extends a special invitation for members to participate in Orthopaedic Advocacy Week May 24-28, 2021. He explains how the new, completely virtual event is different from previous advocacy opportunities, what issues orthopaedic surgeons will raise with lawmakers, and why individual participation is “paramount” for amplifying year-long advocacy efforts on healthcare policy issues impacting musculoskeletal care.

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AAOS News

Sign Up Now for Orthopaedic Advocacy Week

The Office of Government Relations, in conjunction with AAOS leadership, is hosting an Orthopaedic Advocacy Week from May 24-28, 2021, to amplify year-long advocacy efforts in a new and innovative way. Although we cannot yet meet in-person with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., it is absolutely critical that we continue to engage with them on relevant issues involving the orthopaedic care we provide. During this event, we look forward to educating members of Congress on these issues, increasing our effectiveness as advocates, and delivering critical messages on behalf of our patients and the musculoskeletal community across the country.

The Office of Government Relations will be sending more information, details, and resources for the event as they become available. In the meantime, please consider signing up today to participate and serve as an advocate. Sign up for the event…

AAOS Provides Advocacy Update at DOCSF

The AAOS Office of Government Relations (OGR) staff and physician leaders joined the Digital Orthopaedics Conference San Francisco (DOCSF) on April 24 to share an update on the health policy landscape. AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, and Jordan Vivian of the AAOS OGR spoke on the DOCSF Politics Desk, discussing telehealth regulations, health equity, and the possibility of expanding Medicare or providing a public option. The panelists said that more permanent changes to telehealth policy were likely as lawmakers express support for building on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, continued use of telehealth may help mitigate health disparities by improving access to care. Large-scale changes in eligibility for Medicare or other public health insurance programs was seen as unlikely due to the partisan makeup of Congress. Watch the panel and other DOCSF presentations…

Healthcare Policy News

CMS Proposes Changes to IPPS and Long-term Care Hospital PPS

On April 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled recommendations to update Medicare payment policies for hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year 2022. As expected, the policies are anchored by the Biden Administration’s priority of achieving health equity and continuing to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19. This includes prioritizing applications from hospitals with underserved patient populations for the 1,000 new Medicare-funded residency slots, and possibly developing quality measures based on patient risk factors impacted by health disparities. Additionally, hospitals will continue to receive supplemental payments for COVID-19 treatments through the end of the public health emergency. Notably, the proposed rule also initiates a repeal of the shift to a market-based methodology for calculating Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) relative weights, which was finalized last year for implementation beginning in FY 2024. AAOS is analyzing the rule and will provide both a summary and comments in the coming weeks. Check out CMS’ fact sheet…

New Democrat Coalition Asks WH to Streamline Prior Authorization

Members of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), led by Health Care Task Force Co-Chairs Kim Schrier (WA-08) and Terri Sewell (AL-07), with NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01), sent a letter to the Biden Administration outlining the coalition’s healthcare priorities for this Congress. Among the items highlighted, the coalition stressed the need for reforms to prior authorization processes including improving coverage and cost transparency for patients. The trend of increasing prior authorization requirements has also united stakeholder groups in calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide an impact analysis on the use of previously implemented requirements before moving forward with additional changes scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021. Read the letter…

OrthoPAC Corner

Get Invested with OrthoPAC during Orthopaedic Advocacy Week

As part of Orthopaedic Advocacy Week, orthopaedic surgeons nationwide will amplify their voices around the most crucial policy issues facing the orthopaedic profession and the patients they serve. The event will culminate in an Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (OrthoPAC) Day of Giving on May 28, when the OrthoPAC will thank their 2021 PAC members for their strong support, including an exciting prize sweepstakes. The Orthopaedic PAC is excited to offer as part of the inaugural Orthopaedic Advocacy Week a winner’s choice vacation sweepstakes. After a trying year, it’s time to relax. Winners have two years, or until 2023, to redeem their vacation. All 2021 contributors to OrthoPAC will receive entries into the sweepstakes. Text SWEEPS to 41444 to enter.

Learn More about the sweepstakes.