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| COVID-19 will continue to impact the healthcare system, hospitals, practices, orthopaedic surgeons, and patients for the foreseeable future. To help disseminate the most relevant and current news, the Academy will publish bonus COVID-19-focused editions of Headline News Now each Tuesday and Thursday through early May. |
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| Today’s Top Story
Tonight: AAOS Leadership to Address the COVID-19 Response—Webinar Update
Join AAOS tonight, April 9, at 8 p.m. C.T. (9 p.m. E.S.T.) for an update on the Academy’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, along with First Vice President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, and Second Vice President Felix H. Savoie III, MD, FAAOS, will be available live to discuss current efforts to support AAOS members during this challenging time. Programming will cover updates on AAOS’ overall advocacy efforts, practice management, Annual Meeting virtual education, and guidance on elective versus nonelective surgery. This interactive forum offers chat-box Q&A, which will enable participants to share their questions directly with the Academy’s leadership. Registration is free, and the webinar will be recorded and made available to watch again after the event.
Register for the webinar… |
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| In Other News
AAOS Signs Letter Asking HHS for Financial Assistance for Front-line Physicians
AAOS joined dozens of other medical organizations in signing an open letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar asking for financial assistance for the physicians who are continuing to put patients’ needs first during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians who are caring for COVID-19 patients may be facing additional financial hardships, including staying in hotels or apartments to maintain social distance from their families, as well as financial losses incurred due to postponing nonessential procedures and visits.
Read the letter… |
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| CMS Pens Open Letter to Clinicians
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wrote an open letter to clinicians explaining its recent actions to eliminate barriers and ease some of the burden of patient care amid COVID-19. The letter highlights accelerated and advanced payments, testing and claims reporting for COVID-19, Medicare telehealth visits/virtual check-ins/e-visits, and more.
Read the letter… |
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| COVID-19: Recommendations for Pursuing Liability Protections Through State Action
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Medical Professional Liability Association have created a new resource to help address liability issues arising from COVID-19 at the state level. It addresses current state liability protections for physicians providing care in an emergency, policy gaps, appropriate vehicle to implement policy, and sample language.
Read more… |
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| CMS Releases New Infection Control Guidance
CMS released a series of guidelines focused on infection control to stop the spread of COVD-19 in inpatient and outpatient settings. The guidance is based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and aims to control infection in the context of patient triage; screening and treatment; the use of alternate testing, treatment sites, and telehealth; drive-through screenings; limiting visitations; cleaning and disinfection guidelines; staffing; and more.
Read the CMS press release… |
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| CDC: Certain Essential Workers May Return to Work
CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, announced that essential employees—including healthcare workers—who are asymptomatic and have stayed six feet away from confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients can return to work. President Donald J. Trump and his team are still recommending that Americans follow social distancing guidelines. Anthony Fauci, MD, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said that if current social distancing recommendations are able to control the spread of COVID-19, the recommendations may be relaxed at the end of April.
Read more… |
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| Your AAOS
COVID-19 Advocacy Poll: Share Your Story
AAOS is interested in collecting data on how the emergence of COVID-19 has impacted you, your practice, and your patients from an economic standpoint This data will be used to inform AAOS advocacy priorities related to COVID-19 and to assist AAOS in achieving certain objectives when working with Congress on subsequent economic stimulus/relief packages.
Take the survey… |
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| Additional News
AMA Calls on HHS to Share COVID-19 Data by Race
The AMA wrote a letter to HHS asking for information on COVID-19 testing, hospitalization, and mortality on the basis of race/ethnicity.
Read the letter… |
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| Spine Surgeon Who Beat COVID-19 Raises Money for Local Food Bank
Jim Sanfilippo, MD, a spine surgeon in New Jersey, battled COVID-19 and then found a unique way to raise money for a local food bank, raising $15,000 to date.
Read more… |
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