| CMS Proposes to Extend Joint Replacement Model
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule that would provide a three-year extension to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model, which is scheduled to end in December 2020. Among the changes, CMS is proposing to alter the definition of a CJR “episode” to include outpatient hip and knee replacements. The agency is also proposing to get rid of the 50 percent cap on gain-sharing and allow additional flexibilities for procedures to be done in the outpatient setting. Since the AAOS continues to oppose the mandatory nature of the CJR Model, it is concerned with CMS’ decision to exclude voluntary participants from the proposed extension and to readjust the target price for model participants to their most recent performance year. The AAOS is currently performing an in-depth analysis of the proposed rule and will submit formal comments to CMS before the deadline. Read the CMS fact sheet…
Action Alert: Help Protect Patient Access
As the field of orthopaedics continues to face threats to patient access and increasing administrative burden, it’s more important now than ever for surgeons to make their voices heard on key health care policy initiatives. The Office of Government Relations is encouraging members to take action on several issues that Congress will consider this spring. One of those issues is preventing cuts to the value of hip and knee replacement codes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is in the process of considering a funding recommendation that could significantly impact access to these life-changing procedures. Another time sensitive issue is building support for critical extremity war injury research through the Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program before the upcoming appropriations deadlines in February. Additionally, AAOS continues to advocate for reforming prior authorization processes and removing regulatory barriers to timely access to care. Take action on one or all of these grassroot initiatives today. Visit the Advocacy Action Center…
OGR Introduces 2020 Resident Advocacy Fellows
The AAOS Office of Government Relations (OGR) is proud to introduce its 2020 Resident Advocacy Fellows: Carl L. Herndon, MD, and Kacy Peek, MD. Dr. Herndon is a PGY-4 orthopaedic surgery resident at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York. He says he was first exposed to advocacy and the ways in which health policy can affect the daily lives of both patients and healthcare professionals when he worked on the medical operations team of a large, federally qualified, inner-city health center prior to medical school. Dr. Peek is a PGY-4 orthopaedic surgery resident at the University of Washington in Seattle. Throughout her medical and research training, she has focused on identifying patient barriers and improving access to health care, particularly for rural residents. The OGR team looks forward to working with Drs. Peek and Herndon in the weeks and months to come. Read more about the new fellows… |
