Today’s Top Story
AAOS Board addresses performance measures, CPG, other business priorities.
Among the items addressed at the AAOS Board of Directors meeting on Monday, Feb. 29, the Board appointed Past President Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, to serve as chair of the 2017 Nominating Committee. In addition, the Board approved items such as revised language for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs); recommendations from the Quality Outcomes Data Work Group, which was charged with investigating partnership opportunities for the collection of quality data and investigation and evaluation of appropriate instruments; and a recommendation from the AAOS Performance Measures Committee regarding its review of 2016 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) performance measures and identification of a concise set of PQRS performance measures that AAOS members can use to satisfy the 2016 quality reporting requirements. The Board also adopted a new CPG on the management of carpal tunnel syndrome. Read more…
Read the Orthopaedic Preferred Specialty Measure Set (PDF)…
Read the new CPG (PDF)…
Other News
Study: PRP may help reduce pain for patients with hip OA.
Data from a study published in the March issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggest that intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may offer significant clinical improvement in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The authors conducted a randomized, controlled trial of 111 adults aged 18 to 65 years, with hip OA and baseline pain intensity of >20 on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Patients were assigned to one of three groups: 3 weekly injections of PRP (n = 44), PRP + hyaluronic acid (HA; n = 31), or HA (n = 36). At 2-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up, patients in the PRP cohort had the lowest VAS scores. In addition, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index was significantly better among PRP patients compared to other cohorts at 2- and 6-month follow-ups, but not at 12-month follow-up. The authors note that the addition of PRP+HA did not lead to a significant improvement in pain symptoms. Read the abstract…
Supreme Court rules that ERISA overrides state all-payer claims database.
Forbes reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a Vermont law that requires health insurance companies to report information on self-funded insurance plans to a state database violates the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). At issue was a case in which Vermont’s all-payer claims database sought to collect information from a private insurer that oversees a self-funded employee healthcare plan. In a 6-2 decision, the court held that ERISA protects insurers from dealing with a patchwork of state laws that could impose additional recordkeeping costs and open them to civil liability claims. The American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges had filed a brief in the case, arguing that all-payer claims databases may be vital to public policy oversight, and that federal law should not be interpreted to preclude states’ implementation of such tools. The decision could impact similar laws in 17 other states. Read more…
Read the Supreme Court decision (PDF)…
Read the AHA/AAMC brief (PDF)…
Second phase of Perioperative Surgical Home initiative to start April 1.
The Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) is a patient-centered, team-based model of care coordination designed to guide patients through the complete surgical experience, starting with the decision to undergo surgery and concluding with discharge and return to function. At its December meeting, the AAOS Board of Directors endorsed the PSH model and appointed two members to participate on the oversight panel. In order to participate in the PSH Learning Collaborative 2.0, interested parties must complete and submit an application by March 15, 2016, followed by a PSH Learning Collaborative Participation Agreement by March 31, 2016. Read more…
Learn more and submit an application to participate…
Roger Staubach to speak tomorrow at AAOS Annual Meeting.
Presidential Guest Speaker Roger Staubach is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Mr. Staubach attended the U.S. Naval Academy, playing quarterback for the Midshipmen and was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1963. In 1969, he joined the Cowboys as a 27-year-old rookie. During his NFL career, Mr. Staubach was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, led the Cowboys to the National Football Conference championship five times, and won two Super Bowls. He was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1971 and was rated the 46th greatest NFL player of all time by NFL.com. After 11 seasons on the field, Mr. Staubach retired with 1,685 completions in 2,958 passing attempts, 22,700 yards gained, and 153 touchdowns. At the time, his lifetime passing rating of 83.4 was the highest in NFL history. He holds numerous honors for his leadership in business, civic, philanthropic, and athletic activities, including the 2006 Congressional Medal of Honor Patriot Award and the 2007 Horatio Alger Award. Mr. Staubach will speak tomorrow, Thursday, March 3, at 11 a.m., in the Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center. Read more…
Last call: PCORI advisory panels.
AAOS seeks to nominate members to several Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Advisory Panels. The Advisory Panels are: Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options; Improving Healthcare Systems; Addressing Disparities; Patient Engagement; Clinical Trials; Rare Disease; and Communication and Dissemination Research. Applicants for these positions must be active fellows, candidate members, candidate members osteopathic, candidate member applicants for fellowship, or candidate member applicants for fellowship osteopathic. In addition, all applicants must provide the following: an online AAOS CAP application; a current curriculum vitae; a personal statement (250 to 600 words) that clearly describes their background, experience, degree to which expertise and background could improve PCORI’s work, and reasons for applying; and a PCORI application form. All supporting materials must be submitted by March 7, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. CT, to Kyle Shah at: shah@aaos.org
Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
