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Obama’s remarks on reimbursement and the role of surgeons draw AAOS response
The president misrepresented surgeon reimbursement for diabetic foot amputation.
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In light of the current health care debate that is marred by inaccuracies reported from government officials, members of the media and being spread by word of mouth, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has released a statement addressing misrepresentations that it alleges President Obama made at a recent town hall meeting on health care reform.
During the audience question-and-answer segment at a meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, President Obama stressed the need to increase the number of primary care providers and change reimbursement rates for their services.
High reimbursement
“On the doctors’ front, one of the things we can do is to reimburse doctors who are providing preventive care and not just the surgeon who provides care after somebody is sick,” Obama said to the crowd.
Using the example of diabetes care, the president said that primary care physicians receive low reimbursements.
“But if that same diabetic ends up getting their foot amputated, that’s $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 -- immediately the surgeon is reimbursed,” he said. “Well, why not make sure that we’re also reimbursing the care that prevents the amputation, right? That will save us money.”
“Close to home”
The President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, said that his group responded to the president’s comments because the misrepresentations hit too close to home.
“We understand that he was making a point about the need to stress preventative care,” Zuckerman said. “However, the serious mistake was the mischaracterization of the role of the orthopedic surgeon who may perform the amputation. We had to set that straight.”
Total costs
Obama implied that the surgeon’s only role is to perform an amputation, Zuckerman said. Obama also failed to acknowledge the surgeon’s involvement in the complete spectrum of care and that amputation is a last resort.
Although surgeons are reimbursed between $700 and $1,200 for an amputation, Zuckerman noted that the president’s estimate could have included the total health care costs for a patient.
The AAOS remains involved in the health care debate and will continue to correct inaccuracies, Zuckerman said.
“So much is being mischaracterized — whether it is end of life or death panels —all of that stuff is ridiculous,” he said.
“The president has focused a lot on the misrepresentations and inaccuracies at the town hall meetings and for him to be responsible for adding to that is distressing to us.”
For more information:
- Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, can be reached at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 E. 17th St., Suite 1402, New York, NY 10003; 212-598-6674; e-mail: joseph.zuckerman@nyumc.org.
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