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| Today’s Top Story
Physician Groups Respond to New Surprise Billing Rule
Yesterday, the Biden-Harris administration issued a second interim final rule regarding the No Surprises Act, aimed to curb surprise medical billing. The new rule establishes a process to settle out-of-network costs between providers and payers but fails Congress’ impartiality test by requiring that a certified independent dispute resolution entity look first to the qualifying payment amount. In a press release distributed today, a coalition representing 140,000 physicians, including AAOS, denounced the rule and encouraged regulators to revisit congressional intent to protect patients and doctors. The Administration is currently accepting comments regarding this interim rule, which is expected to be enacted Jan. 1, 2022.
Read more…
Read the physicians’ coalition press release… |
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| In Other News
Study: Discharge Location after TSA Impacts Risk of Complications
A study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® found that nonhome discharge after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) may negatively impact postoperative outcomes TSA cases from 2013 to 2018 were analyzed from a national database. Factors associated with nonhome discharge were age >85 years, dialysis, transfer from nonhome facility, dependent functional status, female sex, congestive heart failure, American Society of Anesthesiologists class >2, longer length of stay, and BMI >35. Compared to discharge to other locations, nonhome discharge led to a four-fold higher risk of major adverse events (8.6 percent versus 2.4 percent) and minor adverse events (6.1 percent versus 1.4 percent, respectively).
Read the abstract… |
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| Study Calculates Cost-effectiveness of Spinal Imaging before THA
Screening for stiff/hypermobile spine before total hip arthroplasty (THA) is cost-effective and beneficial, according to a study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty. A Markov decision model was used to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained with spinal imaging, assuming screened patients receive dual mobility hardware and nonscreened patients receive conventional THA. Lifetime costs for screening were $12,515 and QALY gains were 16.91 years, compared with $13,331 and 16.77, respectively, for nonscreened patients. The authors reported that screening is more cost-effective if stiff/hypermobile spine prevalence is >1.9 percent, screening costs are <$925, and dual mobility hardware costs are <$2.850 that of conventional hardware.
Read the abstract… |
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| Study: Psychological Factors Associated with Re-rupture after ACLR
A study published online in Arthroscopy found that greater psychological readiness to return to sport after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with re-rupture within two years. Thirty-six patients with re-rupture were matched with 108 controls without re-rupture. Patients with re-rupture demonstrated greater psychological readiness (i.e., greater confidence in performance, lesser negative emotions, and lesser risk appraisal) regarding return to sport at eight and 12 months compared to patients without re-rupture. Patients with re-rupture also had higher knee-related self-efficacy at eight and 12 months compared to the matched group.
Read the abstract… |
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| Study: High Frequency of ITCL Tears in Chronic Ankle Instability with Sinus Tarsi Pain
A study published online in Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy found that 90.7 percent of patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (LAI) and sinus tarsi pain also had interosseous talocalcaneal ligament (ITCL) tears. In total, 118 ankles underwent subtalar arthroscopy and lateral ankle ligament surgery. Thirty-six ankles had grade 3 tears. Isolated LAI occurred in 36.4 percent of cases, subtalar instability in 25.4 percent, and LAI with subtalar instability in 38.1 percent. ITCL tear grade was significantly associated with final diagnosis. Pain and patient-reported outcomes significantly improved postoperatively.
Read the abstract… |
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| AAOS Now
CMS’ Proposed Payment Policy Changes for 2022 Are Significant
In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the highly anticipated proposed rules for the calendar year (CY) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the CY 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System. This article reviews the two proposed payment rules, which propose significant changes to the landscape of musculoskeletal care.
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| Your AAOS
Hotel Reservations Available for AAOS 2022 in Chicago—Book Risk-free with onPeak
Plan ahead for the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting, taking place in Chicago, March 22–26. In partnership with onPeak, AAOS secured discounted rates at a selection of Chicago hotels, offering convenient and affordable options for your trip. onPeak is the only hotel provider endorsed by the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting and members are encouraged to reserve accommodations through their website for the best selection, price, and risk-free booking. With 30 hotels to choose from, you’re sure to meet your style and budget. Plus, there’s no upfront cost to reserve your room, and you can cancel anytime without penalty until March 1, 2022. Why wait?
Make your reservation with onPeak… |
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