Healio
Healio
April 07, 2011
2 min read
Save

Orthopedic surgeons attempt to raise awareness in the nation’s capital

More than 300 orthopedic surgeons from around the country are in Washington, D.C. today to lobby members of Congress on critical orthopedic issues, according to a press release from the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The effort is part of the association’s National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC). Conference attendees will meet with individual members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in an effort to improve the management and treatment of muscoloskeletal diseases.

Further goals include achieving meaningful medical liability reform, preserving patient access to specialty care by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) and protecting patients’ rights to use in-office ancillary services.

Access to services

NOLC participants are also encouraging House and Senate members to support the Access to America’s Orthopaedic Services Act — a bill designed to increase attention to the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions, as well as promote further research and new surgical methods to better patient mobility and quality of life. According to the release, the act has been introduced in previous Congresses and is expected to be reintroduced this year.

“Musculoskeletal diseases and conditions are the leading cause of disability in the United States, and are the greatest cause of total lost work days,” Daniel J. Berry, MD, president of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), stated in the release. “The impact that this epidemic has on our economy deserves the attention of members of Congress. We encourage them to work with us to improve musculoskeletal care so that their constituents can live full, active, independent and productive lives.”

According to AAOS handouts, the act would do the following:

  • provide reports to Congress that analyze the extent of musculoskeletal research funding;
  • note the number of new investigators entering the field;
  • identify existing trauma care initiatives to enhance cooperation among federal agencies;
  • urge the Office of Minority Health to consider musculoskeletal diseases and conditions a health priority;
  • promote bone health initiatives among adolescent girls; and
  • increase agency reporting requirements to improve the management of musculoskeletal diseases for populations with health disparities and reduce injury among children and the elderly.

Repealing the IPAB

The IPAB is another issue of concern for the AAOS, which notes in a handout that the legislation will “threaten access to specialty care” for their most vulnerable patients. Specifically, the AAOS has cited a “lack of accountability and transparency” inherent to the legislation.

The IPAB, created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will consist of 15 members appointed by the president. According to the AAOS handout, less than 50% of the IPAB members can be health care providers, and no member can be a practicing physician.

The AAOS handout notes that cuts recommended by the IPAB— starting in 2014 — will be based on “unrealistic spending targets,” and these recommendations would be “fast tracked,” automatically going into effect fiscal year 2015 unless blocked or amended by Congress. The handout also noted that providers representing roughly 37% of all Medicare payments are exempt from IPAB cuts until 2020, meaning IPAB-directed cuts will “disproportionately fall on all other providers and suppliers, including orthopedic surgeons.”

“Leaving Medicare payment decisions in the hands of an unelected, unaccountable government body with minimal congressional oversight will negatively affect timely access to care for older Americans, military families and people with disabilities,” Peter J. Mandell, MD, chairman of the AAOS Council on Advocacy, stated in the release.

NOLC participants are also recommend that members of Congress cosponsor the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act (H.R. 452) or the Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act (S.668). According to the release, participants are also asking Congress to support H.R. 1159, a bill designed to protect specialty hospitals.

References:

  • www.aaos.org
  • www3.aaos.org/govern/federal/nolc/nolc2011/IPAB_NOLC.pdf
  • www3.aaos.org/govern/federal/nolc/nolc2011/AAOS_Bill_NOLC.pdf

Twitter Follow ORTHOSuperSite.com on Twitter