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December 5, 2025   Advocacy in Action   AAOS and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association joined a coalition in support of Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s (D-NJ) Safety and Funding for E-Bikes (SAFE) Ride Act. AAOS will host an in-district event for Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), who received the AAOS Congressional Bipartisanship Award earlier this year. AAOS News   AAOS backs SAFE Ride Act to improve e-bike safety  AAOS and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association joined a coalition of trauma, emergency medicine, and injury-prevention organizations in [...]

  ACTION ALERT     Dear colleagues,   As you know, AAOS is leading the charge against significant reductions to work RVUs that were included in CMS' final rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Unless Congress steps in to block or delay implementation of this "efficiency adjustment," a -2.5% reduction to work RVUs for most non-time-based codes is set to take effect on January 1, with additional reductions every three years. This cut will directly harm [...]

    FROM THE DESK OF NED AMENDOLA MD, FAAOS | President, AAOS   Dear colleagues,   After more than 40 days of the government shutdown, this evening the Senate finally passed a bipartisan agreement on a funding package that includes three FY26 appropriations bills (Agriculture and FDA, Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch) while funding the remainder of the government via continuing resolution (CR) through January 30, 2026. To secure enough support for the package, Senate Majority [...]

AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS joined 33 other physician specialty organizations in sending a letter to Congress advocating for corrections to the latest Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. AAOS encourages members to stand up for their profession and call on Congress to stop to these cuts. AAOS advocates headed to Capitol Hill last week to discuss the need for restoration of funding for the Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program.   AAOS News   AAOS and other physician specialty organizations call [...]

AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS led a group of healthcare organizations in sharing support for the Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act, which would repeal the ban on physician-led hospitals in rural communities. AAOS is closely monitoring the federal government shutdown as week four comes to a close.   AAOS News   AAOS leads 87 organizations in supporting physician-led hospitals    AAOS, along with 87 other leading healthcare organizations, sent a letter of support [...]

AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS staff recently attended a presentation on the liability implications of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings. The AAOS Orthopaedic PAC hosted a fundraiser for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), who is a candidate for the Senate. AAOS is closely monitoring the federal government shutdown as it heads into week two.   AAOS News AAOS continues to monitor government shutdown The federal government remains shut down as the Senate continues to reject funding bills, including [...]

  August 29, 2025 AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS announced its support of the Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act, which includes a new loan repayment program for physicians in rural communities. AAOS looks forward to welcoming orthopaedic advocates from across the country at this year’s National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference. A new AAOS Now Podcast episode highlights the AAOS Board of Councilors and encourages members to advocate on behalf of their profession by getting involved with [...]

View in browser     August 15, 2025 AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS hosted the fifth annual Orthopaedic Advocacy Week, generating more than 1,200 letters to decision-makers on behalf of the musculoskeletal care commnunity. AAOS, in conjunction with the Regulatory Relief Coalition, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expressing concern over the new WISeR Model   AAOS News AAOS commemorates 5th annual Orthopaedic Advocacy Week, moves needle on MSK Care From Aug. 11-13, [...]

  August 1, 2025 AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS Orthopaedic PAC Chair Wayne Johnson, MD, FAAOS, joined the AAOS Bone Beat Advocacy Podcast to highlight the PAC’s 2025 priorities and progress. AAOS developed detailed summaries on how the implementation of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Outpatient Prospective Payment System rules proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could impact orthopaedic surgeons.   AAOS News Podcast highlights OrthoPAC’s role in shaping, safeguarding healthcare policy The [...]

    July 18, 2025 AAOS Advocacy in Action   AAOS is advocating for the restoration of the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program. AAOS supports the reintroduction of the Access to Claims Data Act (H.R. 4331), which would give clinician-led registries access to Medicare claims data for evaluating long-term patient outcomes. AAOS is reviewing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ newly proposed payment rules on the physician fee schedule, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulatory [...]