Today’s Top Story
ABOS to incorporate ProPublica surgeon scorecard ratings in recertification process.
ProPublica reports that the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) will incorporate that publication’s surgeon scorecard ratings into its recertification process. According to ProPublica, under the new arrangement, information from the surgeon scorecard will be considered in concert with other quality issues when orthopaedists seek recertification. According to Shepard R. Hurwitz, MD, ABOS executive director, the ABOS board of directors approved the plan on Oct. 5, 2015. The ProPublica database ratings are based on 5 years of Medicare records for eight common elective procedures, including spinal fusion and knee and hip arthroplasty. Read more…
View the ProPublica database…
Other News
Study: Early PT may offer only modest improvement for patients with recent-onset LBP.
Findings from a study published in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that early physical therapy (PT) may be associated with only modest improvement in disability for adults with recent-onset low back pain (LBP). The authors conducted a randomized clinical trial of 220 adults who had received no treatment for LBP within the previous 6 months. Overall, 108 patients received 4 sessions of early PT, while 112 patients in the control group received no additional interventions during the first 4 weeks. All participants received education. At 4-week and 3-month follow-ups, the authors noted significant improvement in Oswestry Disability Index and Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores among participants in the PT cohort. However, there was no significant difference in either score between groups at 1 year. The authors state that the improvement seen among PT patients did not achieve the minimum clinically important difference compared with usual care. Read more…
Read the abstract…
WSJ discusses rising popularity of bilateral TKA.
An article in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) looks at the issue of bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The writer cites data suggesting that bilateral surgery can be performed at significantly reduced cost compared to two unilateral surgeries. However, recent studies have suggested increased complication and mortality rates associated with bilateral procedures. According to the writer, studies suggest that the rate of bilateral TKAs performed in the United States has increased from less than 4 percent in 1999 to more than 6 percent today. Read more…
Study: Is Choosing Wisely doing enough to promote its recommendations?
A study published in the Oct. 12 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine suggests a need for additional interventions to encourage adoption of Choosing Wisely recommendations. The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of claims data on seven low-value services, including low back pain imaging without red-flag conditions and use of prescription NSAIDs for patients with hypertension, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. They found that two services saw small declines after the release of Choosing Wisely recommendations, two saw increases, and use of three services remained high with no statistically significant changes. Read the abstract…
The Choosing Wisely campaign was designed to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is necessary, evidence-based, non-duplicative, and free from harm. AAOS released its own list of Choosing Wisely recommendations in September 2013. Read more…
CMS chronic care management code may be underutilized.
Modern Healthcare reports on a Medicare reimbursement initiative that may be underutilized by physicians. Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, Medicare pays separately under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule under CPT code 99490 for non-face-to-face care coordination services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. Observers say the average billing is estimated to be about $42 per patient, per month. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states that about 35 million Medicare beneficiaries would be eligible for participation in the program, but so far the agency has only received reimbursement requests for about 100,000 beneficiaries. The writer suggests that one possible reason for low interest on the part of physicians is that they have to get permission from patients, who are responsible for a 20 percent copayment each time their provider bills for the services. Read more…(registration may be required)
Learn more about CPT code 99490 (PDF)…
Does insider trading have a negative effect on the healthcare industry?
A perspective piece published online in JAMA Internal Medicine argues that insider trading by physicians may undermine the positive outcomes of relationships between physicians and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry. The writers note that although it is illegal in the United States to trade stocks based on nonpublic information, several recent, high-profile cases have involved physicians and researchers with access to information about clinical trials of investigational products. “Given the magnitude of the potential financial rewards, the ease of concealing illegal conduct, and the absence of identifiable victims, the temptation for physicians and scientists to engage in insider trading will always be present,” they write. “Minimizing the occurrence of insider trading will require robust education, strictly enforced contractual provisions, and selective prohibitions against high-risk conduct, such as participation in expert consulting networks and online physician forums, by those individuals with access to valuable inside information.” Read more…
Read the abstract…
AAOS members: Reserve your rooms now for the AAOS 2016 Annual Meeting!
Member housing is now open for the 2016 AAOS Annual Meeting. The 2016 AAOS Annual Meeting will take place March 1–5, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. For the best selection of hotels in Orlando, be sure to reserve a room before Oct. 28, when non-member housing opens. AAOS housing offers free shuttle bus service to the convention center and assistance from on-site housing representatives. Book your housing…
Learn more about the AAOS Annual Meeting…
Last call: Committee positions closing soon!
A number of openings on the AAOS Committee Appointment Program website are closing soon. Act now to apply for the following positions:
- Adult Spine Evaluation Committee (chair; Oct. 19 deadline)
- Biological Implants Committee (one member; Oct. 21)
- Orthopaedic Basic Science Evaluation Committee (four members; Oct. 19)
Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
