AAOS Advocacy Now

A Win for AAOS Advocacy on Guidelines for SI Joint Fusion
AAOS became aware of a policy created by AIM Specialty Health on minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion, exclusive to the use of the triangular iFuse Implant System. The policy, which was then adopted by Anthem and United Healthcare, restricted the use of other sacroiliac joint fusion devices. AAOS expressed concern regarding the practice of granting exclusive coverage, which would severely affect the surgeon’s ability to provide the best treatment for their patients. In a major win for AAOS advocacy, on May 18, 2022, AIM Specialty Health reported that they are removing the requirement of exclusively allowing the iFuse device as part of their Appropriate Use Criteria for Sacroiliac Joint Fusion. The updated guideline expands the indication for percutaneous/minimally invasive SI joint fusion to include any FDA-approved structural device with fixation. This will become effective June 12, 2022. The complete guideline can be accessed here.

AAOS Supports Proposed Legislation on Expansion of Physician-Owned Hospitals

On May 3, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) introduced S. 4130, the Patient Access to Higher Quality Healthcare Act. This is companion legislation to a House version introduced last year by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX). This important legislation would repeal the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that prohibited any new physician-owned hospital from expanding and participating in Medicare and Medicaid. Physician-owned hospitals run efficiently and contribute to diversity and increased access in the healthcare marketplace. AAOS is increasingly concerned about the effects of hospital consolidation on the healthcare system, and this legislation could help correct that. AAOS supports this legislation, and a letter of support can be found here.

Healthcare Policy News

Bill Authorizing New Biden Health Agency Passes House Energy & Commerce Committee 
On May 18, the ARPA-H Act (H.R. 5585) was advanced out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee by a vote of 53-3. The bipartisan bill would authorize the new biomedical innovation hub known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) as an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ARPA-H director would be subject to presidential appointment and Senate confirmation. The bill would prohibit ARPA-H’s headquarters from sitting on any part of the existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) campuses, which would conflict with steps already taken by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to establish ARPA-H as an agency inside NIH. The House bill would provide HHS six months to transfer ARPA-H into an independent operating division. Lawmakers have already begun pressing the administration to choose their state for the placement of ARPA-H, with Massachusetts’s and Texas’s congressional delegations both reportedly lobbying Secretary Becerra to headquarter ARPA-H within their states.

OrthoPAC Election Update
Primaries took place during the last two weeks in several key states where OrthoPAC-supported candidates are seeking election to U.S. Congress.

• In Georgia District 6, emergency physician Rich McCormick came away with 43.2% of the vote, successfully setting him up for a June run-off against Jake Evans, to be the Republican nominee. OrthoPAC endorsed Dr. McCormick in his 2020 bid for the same seat and is strongly supporting him again in 2022.

• In Pennsylvania’s 7th district, incumbent Susan Wild will be the Democratic nominee, winning a narrow victory over Kevin Dellicker, with 51% of the vote.

• In North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, Ted Budd won the Republican nomination, with 58% of the vote, and will face former chief justice Cheri Beasley in November.

• In Oregon, orthopaedic surgeon John Di Paola lost his bid to be the Republican nominee for district 5.

• The next big primary date will be June 7 when orthopaedic surgeon Al Olszewski will seek to become the Republican nominee for Montana District 1.

OrthoPAC will continue to monitor the elections closely. With a record number of congressional retirements, including many orthopaedic champions, it is vital that we elect candidates this November who understand and support our issues. If there is a candidate you would like to request support for, please let us know. OrthoPAC’s contribution criteria can be found here on the member sign-in page.