Today’s Top Story
CMS releases guide to assist orthopaedists with ICD-10 transition.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released ICD-10: Clinical Concepts for Orthopedics—part of a series of guides that include common ICD-10 codes, clinical documentation tips, and a series of example clinical scenarios to familiarize providers with coding under ICD-10. Other guides in the series cover areas such as pediatrics, family practice, and internal medicine. Read more…
Read the guide (PDF)…
Find more resources from the AAOS…
Other News
House bill seeks to reform Medicare RAC program.
A post on the California Medical Association website outlines key points of a bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives that would, if enacted, require Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) “to provide 90 days prior notice to a physician’s office of an audit, educate physicians after the audit as to any incorrect billing practices, establish a more sound extrapolation formula that removes the outliers, reimburse costly documentation requests to reduce physician burden, and employ qualified auditors.” In addition, the Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015 would limit audits to a 2-year “look-back” period, prohibit RACs from recouping payments until appeals are finalized, impose penalties for inaccurate findings, and provide financial incentives for RACs to educate physicians. Read more…
Read the text of the bill…
Study: Adjunct therapy with PRP and HA may improve outcomes for patients treated arthroscopically for talar OCLs.
Data from a Turkish study published in the August issue of the journal Foot & Ankle International suggest that treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) may improve clinical outcomes for patients who undergo arthroscopic surgery for talar osteochondral lesions (OCLs). The researchers conducted a prospective, randomized, blinded study of 40 patients with talar OCLs in their ankle joints who were treated with arthroscopic debridement and microfracture. Patients also received PRP (n = 13) or HA (n = 14); the control group received a saline injection (n = 13). At mean 15.3-month follow-up, the researchers found that the two treatment cohorts had significant improvement in average AOFAS score and visual analog pain scale (VAS) score compared to the control group. The researchers note that patients in the PRP group saw additional significant improvement in AOFAS and VAS scores compared to those in the HA group. Read the abstract…
Study: Player sex does not significantly affect recovery time after hamstring strain.
According to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Athletic Training, sex may have little or no effect on recovery time after a hamstring strain. The research team conducted a descriptive epidemiology study of 507 collegiate soccer athletes (306 men, 201 women) who sustained a hamstring strain. They found no significant difference between sexes in return-to-participation (RTP) time for either primary or recurrent hamstring strain. However, the research team notes that male and female players displayed unique characteristics, such as timing of injury (season vs. postseason) or position played, that appeared to influence RTP time. Read more…
Read the abstract…
Study: Emergency medicine professionals cite need for improved training with pediatric patients.
Findings published in The Journal of Pediatrics suggest areas for improved training of emergency medical service (EMS) providers when dealing with pediatric patients. The researchers surveyed 753 emergency medicine physicians and EMS professionals across 44 states regarding factors that may contribute to safety events and errors in out-of-hospital emergency care of children. They found that EMS workers cited airway management, heightened anxiety caring for children, lack of pediatric skill proficiency, lack of experience with pediatric equipment, and family members as factors that could lead to delays or interference with care. Read more…
Read the abstract…
How old is too old to practice?
An article on the KPBS Public Broadcasting website looks at the issue of aging physicians, noting that one in four currently practicing physicians in the United States is estimated to be 65 years or older. The writer states that the American Medical Association House of Delegates recently advocated the development of “guidelines and methods of screening and assessment to assure that senior/late career physicians remain able to provide safe and effective care for patients,” and some hospitals have implemented screening programs for older physicians who wish to retain their staff privileges. Supporters of such moves state that they are necessary to maintain patient safety. However, some critics argue that blanket screening would place “a lot of burden on everybody to weed out a few.” Read more…
Expedited licensure process now approved in 11 states.
Lexology reports that 11 states have now enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act—an initiative designed to streamline the licensure process for physicians who seek to practice in multiple states. The legislation does not permit physicians to practice across state lines, but instead offers a simplified process to physicians who practice in states that have approved the Act to apply for licensure in other such states. At least eight additional states have introduced legislation to adopt the Act. Read more…
Learn more about the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act…
Last call: Bylaws Committee, Ethics Committee, Resolutions Committee.
Aug. 25 is the last day to apply for a position on the Bylaws, Ethics, or Resolutions Committees. The following positions are available:
- Bylaws Committee (one member opening)
- Ethics Committee (three members)
- Resolutions Committee (chair, two members)
The Bylaws Committee makes recommendations to the fellowship on all proposed amendments to the AAOS bylaws and Standards of Professionalism. The Ethics Committee provides guidance to AAOS bodies and fellowship regarding issues of medical ethics and professionalism in orthopaedics. The Resolutions Committee develops concise materials and offers recommendations on proposed resolutions for distribution to AAOS fellows. Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
