Advocacy in Action

AAOS Advocacy in Action

	Shared feedback on the steps the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could take to ensure utilization management does not adversely affect enrollees’ access to medically necessary care.
	Urged the Senate to ensure certainty for telehealth services expanded during the COVID-19 public health emergency by passing a two-year extension, while continuing to try and make them permanent.
	Expressed concern over the outstanding issues regarding the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule global surgical package, particularly that the 10- and 90-day codes haven’t been adjusted to reflect recent E/M code increases.

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

Unity in Orthopaedic Advocacy

AAOS is the leading voice for musculoskeletal health, but its voice is only as strong as its members are unified despite their vast differences in sub specialization and political ideology. In this episode, former AAOS President Gerald Williams, Jr., MD, FAAOS (Pennsylvania) makes the case that coming together as one national orthopaedic organization and staying focused on ortho-partisan issues is necessary to advocating for patients’ best interests and being heard in a politically fragmented environment.

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AAOS News

Surgeon Leaders Meet with Congress at Combined NOLC/Fall Meeting

The second-ever combined AAOS National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC) and Fall Meeting occurred Sept. 11-14 in Washington, D.C. During the three-day event, Board of Councilors and Board of Specialty Society members raised four healthcare policy issues to legislators: prior authorization reform, Medicare payment changes, safety from workplace violence, and ensuring physician-led care teams. In total, AAOS members met with more than 250 offices in both chambers. Not even a day later, one of the bills they were building support for passed the U.S. House and heads to the Senate after more than two years of tireless advocacy (read more below). Watch a recap reel of the event…

Comments Submitted on Proposed 2023 Medicare Payment Policy Changes

AAOS recently issued formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the agency’s proposed payment policy changes for calendar year (CY) 2023, including changes to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center payment systems(read AAOS comments)and the Physician Fee Schedule (read AAOS comments). AAOS is urging the agency to address growing healthcare costs, expand access to care, and ease physicians’ burden as they continue to navigate patient care and financial and practice management challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. AAOS is also asking that CMS apply recommended value changes to global codes and avoid additional mandates or pre-authorizations when surgeons are determining setting of care. Read the full press release…

Healthcare Policy News

Prior Authorization Bill Clears the House, Heads to the Senate
One day after AAOS members were on Capitol Hill advocating for the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173), it passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote–a process reserved for legislation considered ‘uncontroversial’ and overwhelmingly bipartisan. The bill aims to streamline prior authorization processes within Medicare Advantage plans and is headed to the Senate, where companion legislation by Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) already has widespread support. AAOS has been working towards this tier-one healthcare policy issue of reforming prior authorization both through its efforts with the Regulatory Relief Coalition and by offering grassroot opportunities to members throughout the year. We are encouraged to report that as a result of this advocacy, 70% of Congress is officially cosponsoring the legislation. Learn more about the issue…

Legislation Introduced to Protect Physicians from Pay Cuts under Medicare
This week, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) introduced the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 (H.R. 8800), which provides a 4.42% increase to the 2023 conversion factor. The bill also includes a ‘sense of Congress’ section that says the U.S. Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services should commit to take action to ensure financial stability in the Medicare physician payment system, promote and reward value-based care, and advance health equity and reduce disparities. AAOS members were actually on Capitol Hill advocating for Medicare payment reform as part of the combined NOLC/Fall Meeting as the bill was introduced. In addition to adding 4.42% to the conversion factor, AAOS is asking Congress to pass legislation that would provide, at a minimum, a one-year inflationary update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Read more about the bill…

OrthoPAC Corner

Capitol Club Hosts Over 25 Members of Congress at NOLC/Fall Meeting

During the recent AAOS National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC) and Fall Meeting, OrthoPAC hosted a reception for Capitol Club members (contributors of $1,000) and more than 25 members of Congress. In attendance were 25 U.S. Representatives, two U.S. Senators and one OrthoPAC supported open-seat candidate. Fifteen of the congressional attendees are also members of the Problem Solvers Caucus – a bipartisan group equally divided between Democrats and Republicans who are committed to working across party lines to solve the nation’s toughest challenges through commonsense solutions. AAOS Capitol Club Members were able to meet with congressional representatives and chat about pressing legislative concerns facing orthopaedic surgeons including Medicare’s broken payment system, the need for prior authorization reform, ensuring physician-led care teams, and protecting healthcare workers against violence. Become a Capitol Club member today by texting AAOS to 41444. Learn more about the Capitol Club…