Legislation

  AAOS Advocacy in Action Responded to a request for information from a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives on implementation of Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and associated payment mechanisms (read more below).       OrthoPAC Corner 2022 Midterm Election and Supported Candidate Recap The 2022 midterms turned out to be another interesting election, baffling political pundits. The Senate majority still hangs in the balance with 48 Republicans and 48 Democrats. All eyes are on Nevada [...]

  AAOS Advocacy in Action Joined the Surgical Coalition in a meeting with the White House Office of Management and Budget to advocate for updating the evaluation and management codes within the global surgical packages. Signed onto a letter led by the Friends of NQF requesting additional investments in support of critical healthcare quality improvement and measurement initiatives, specifically passage of the Promoting Health Care Quality Act of 2022 (H.R. 8201). Urged leaders of the House and Senate [...]

  Ask Your Senators to Support Prior Auth Reform Bill     The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173/S. 3018) officially has 46 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. The legislation aims to streamline prior authorization processes within Medicare Advantage plans and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month, just one day after AAOS members were on Capitol Hill advocating for its passage. Now AAOS and other physician groups are building Senate support with hopes that [...]

  AAOS Advocacy in Action Joined in thanking U.S. Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) for introducing legislation to provide an update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor and relief from pending reimbursement cuts (read more below).       The Bone Beat New Episode Conversations on health policy issues affecting musculoskeletal care... Payment Changes Proposed for 2023   In this episode, advocacy leaders from the AAOS review proposed payment policy changes for 2023 [...]

  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 [...]

News Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals: Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports Prostate Cancer: Talk to Your Patients about Screening MLN Matters® Articles Exceptions to Average Sales Price (ASP) Payment Methodology – Claims Processing Manual Changes

  AAOS Advocacy in Action Sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in response to their request for information on Medicare Advantage.         Healthcare Policy News HHS Releases Surprise Billing Final Rule On August 19, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury released a final rule building on the policies set forth in the July 2021 and October 2021 interim final rules on the Requirements Related to Surprise [...]

News CMS Discontinuing the Use of Certificates of Medical Necessity and Durable Medical Equipment Information Forms to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Burden for Clinicians, DME Suppliers, and Beneficiaries Quality Payment Program: Comment on Proposed Changes by September 6 Skilled Nursing Facilities: Participate in Interoperability Survey Home Health: Revised Guide to Help Desks Claims, Pricers, & Codes Claim Status Category and Claim Status Codes Update Events Home Health OASIS-E Virtual Workshops — September 13 & 14 MLN Matters® Articles [...]

News Creating a Roadmap for the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Health Care System Resiliency Preparing the Health Care System for Operation After the Public Health Emergency: Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra extended the existing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) through October 15, 2022 – and has committed to providing states, health care providers, and other stakeholders a 60-day notice before ending the PHE.

  AAOS Advocacy in Action Urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to finalize an inflationary physician payment update for 2023, which would stabilize the system until Congress acts to establish a long-term solution. Requested that UnitedHealthcare reconsider its restrictive policy on minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion devices, which is affecting surgeons' ability to provide care.       The Bone Beat New Episode Conversations on health policy issues affecting musculoskeletal care... Unity in Orthopaedic Advocacy   AAOS is the [...]