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| AAOS Volunteer Opportunities
Committee Openings Available
Consider applying for the following positions:
- Medical Liability Committee Member positions—applications are accepted until Dec. 1
- Practice Management/Rehabilitation Program Committee Member position—applications are accepted until Dec. 3
- OKU Evaluation Committee Member: Hand & Wrist position—applications are accepted until Dec. 6
- OKU Evaluation Committee Member: Basic Science position—applications are accepted until Dec. 6
- Hand and Wrist Content Committee Member position—applications are accepted until Dec. 6
- Spine Content Committee Chair-Designee position—applications are accepted until Jan 2, 2022
Learn more and submit applications… (member login required) |
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| In Other News
Study: Risk Factors for Revision THA in Patients Younger than 55 Years
A study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty reported that higher BMI, drug abuse, and liver disease are risk factors for septic revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients younger than 55 years, while hypertension, anterior approach, and ceramic-on-ceramic implantation were associated with aseptic loosening. Using an arthroplasty registry, researchers compared cause-specific revision in 11,671 patients aged <55 years with 53,106 patients aged ≥65 years. White race, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification ≥3, smoking, paralysis, posterior approach, ceramic-on-ceramic, and smaller head diameter were also associated with instability in patients aged <55 years.
Read the abstract… |
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| Study: Tobacco Use Impacts Pain, Opioid Use after RTSA
Patients who used tobacco reported higher levels of postoperative pain at 12 weeks and required more opioids after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) compared with non-users, according to a retrospective study published online in Current Orthopaedic Practice. The researchers assessed 279 patients, including 23 current tobacco users and 106 former users. Patients who used tobacco used 2,643 oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME), compared with 2,121 oral MME among nonusers and 2,015 oral MME among former tobacco users. Length of stay, complications, reoperations, and readmissions were similar overall.
Read the abstract… |
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| Advocacy
AAOS Advocacy Action Alert: Ensure Surprise Billing Regulations Do Not Favor Insurers
In an attempt to implement the No Surprises Act, which was passed in late 2020 to fix the problem of unanticipated medical bills, federal regulatory agencies have crafted rules that are inconsistent with the carefully negotiated statutory language. As written, the newly released rules give priority to the insurer-formulated median in-network rate over all other factors during the independent dispute resolution process, which may lead to sweeping reductions in both out-of-network and in-network reimbursement over time. Join AAOS in asking Congress to put pressure on the agencies and demand that the No Surprises Act be correctly implemented.
Learn more and take action… |
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| 2022 Payment Changes Finalized for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The finalized rule updates the policy for split evaluation and management visits, allows physician assistants to directly bill Medicare for Part B services, and finalizes the Improving Care for Lower Extremity Joint Repair Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway, with implementation delayed until 2023. CMS will also extend current telehealth flexibilities through CY 2023 and has created a new payment option for extended virtual check-in visits Unfortunately, the statutorily mandated 3.75 percent cut to the Medicare conversion factor will also take effect Jan. 1 with these changes.
Read the CMS fact sheet…
Read AAOS’ comment letter on the proposed MPFS changes… |
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| IPO Elimination Reversal Finalized With Exceptions in 2022 Medicare OPPS
The CMS CY 2022 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)/Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) final rule was released yesterday. In a win for AAOS advocacy, CMS heeded patient safety concerns by reversing its abrupt elimination of the inpatient-only list in 2021 and allowing several procedures (reconstruction of ankle and shoulder joints, as well as lumbar spine fusion) to remain reimbursable in the hospital outpatient setting. The 255 procedures that were added to the ASC Covered Procedures List this year will be removed, and a nomination process for adding procedures will begin in March 2022. CMS is also returning to a two-year exemption period from medical review activities related to the two-midnight rule.
Read the CMS fact sheet…
Read AAOS’ comment letter on the proposed OPPS changes… |
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| AAOS Now
From Evidence to Implementation: Using Clinical Practice Guidelines to Create Care Pathways
Evidence-based medicine has been championed since the 19th century and now has significant support in the medical community, as reflected by the widespread interest and creation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). CPGs have become an important vehicle for the implementation of evidence-based medicine, albeit with many obstacles to their adoption. In this article, authors describe the opportunity to operationalize clinical care pathways in electronic medical records, potentially increasing adoption and compliance by physicians and improving patient care and outcomes.
Read more… |
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