Today’s Top Story

Study: TJA Patients Seeking Medical Answers Online

A study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty evaluated what concerns patients have regarding total joint arthroplasty (TJA) that they sought information about online. Researchers conducted a Google search for the terms total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The search yielded 620 questions (TKA, n = 305; THA, n = 315) with 602 associated websites. Question topics included specific activities (23.5 percent), indications/management (15.6 percent), and restrictions (13.4 percent). The TKA group was more likely than the THA group to ask questions pertaining to pain (23.0 percent versus 2.5 percent).

Read the study…

 
 
 
 
In Other News

Study Compares Manual Versus Robotic-assisted THA

A study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® evaluated outcomes between patients who underwent manual primary THA (mTHA) versus robotic-assisted THA (rTHA). Between June 2008 and July 2013, 66 patients each underwent mTHA and rTHA. The rTHA group had significantly higher Harris Hip Score, Forgotten Joint Score-12, Veterans RAND-12 Physical, and 12-item Short Form Survey Physical. The rTHA group had an 89 percent reduced risk of acetabular implant placement beyond the Lewinnek safe zone and 79 percent beyond the Callanan safe zone.

Read the abstract…

 
 
 
 
FBI Warns Healthcare System of Cybersecurity Threat

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Department of Health and Human Services issued a warning about cybersecurity threats targeting the healthcare sector. The agencies stated they “have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers” and recommend that providers take the appropriate steps to protect themselves and their practices. Human behavior plays a significant role in this risk. Recommended defense strategies include patch operating systems, software, and firmware as soon as manufacturers release updates; regularly back up data, air gap, and password protect backup copies offline; focus on awareness and training among employees; and more.

Read more…

Read the CISA alert…

 
 
 
Trump Administration Releases Transparency Final Rule

The Trump Administration issued the Transparency in Coverage final rule, which requires health insurance companies to publicly post the price of common services and procedures. The policy will be phased in over the next four years. Starting in 2022, insurers must provide data files on costs of various procedures to help build tools so patients can compare costs across different insurers. In 2023, price information for an initial list of 500 shoppable services will be available, and the remainder of services will be added in 2024.

Read more…

Read the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) press release…

 
 
 
COVID-19 Updates

CMS Extends CJR, Mandates That COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Given at No Cost to Patients

In a recent Interim Final Rule, CMS again extended the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model Performance Year 5 by six additional months and will now end on Sept. 30, 2021. In the same rule, the agency announced that when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, it must be given to Americans at no cost. The agency states that any FDA-approved vaccine will be covered by Medicare as well as most private health insurance plans without cost sharing from both in and out-of-network providers during the public health emergency.

Read more…

Read the CMS press release…

 
 
 
AAOS Now

A Look at Musculoskeletal Outcomes in Males Versus Females

The continued improvement in the inclusion of females in clinical research trials, with the passage of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act, has prompted orthopaedic surgeons to improve the understanding of differences between males and females. In 2015, the National Institutes of Health announced a policy on the consideration of sex as a biological variable to foster research that improves the understanding of the biology underlying sex differences. This article includes a brief review of common orthopaedic conditions and the differences in males versus females, including the impact of such differences on clinical outcomes after treatment, if known.

Read more…

 
 
 
Your AAOS

The Bone Beat Podcast: Why the Election Matters for Musculoskeletal Care

With the U.S. general election just days away, much is at stake for the physician community. In episode 11 of AAOS’ advocacy podcast The Bone Beat, Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (OrthoPAC) Executive Committee Treasurer Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FAAOS, and former candidate for the House of Representatives and Oregon State House Representative Knute Buehler, MD, FAAOS, discuss the upcoming election and orthopaedic surgeons’ need to both vote on Nov. 3 and become involved in other forms of civic engagement year-round.

Listen to the episode…

Visit the podcast webpage…

View the OrthoPAC’s State-by-state Voter Resources…