The issue of patients receiving unanticipated medical bills is back in the national spotlight. It rose to prominence in 2019, consumed the attention of policymakers in 2020, and is the focus of newly released regulations designed to implement the “No Surprises Act,” which passed in late 2020. This episode, with interviews from an AAOS member expert and a senior health legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), explains the new process for resolving payment disputes and discusses concerns as to whether or not the regulations will ultimately fulfill their promise. Learn more about the issue: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/surprise-billing  Guests: Adam Bruggeman, MD, FAAOS, Member, AAOS Health Care Systems Committee; Steven Peterson, Senior Legislative Assistant, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

Orthopaedic surgery is set to face an up to 10% reduction in Medicare reimbursement beginning in 2022. This discussion with a healthcare economist dives into the effects that these cuts will have on physician practices and patient care amidst our nation’s growing healthcare expenditures. Participants discuss the government’s reasoning behind the cuts; unintended consequences on access issues and practice consolidation, as well as how the surgical community can advocate against the devaluing of musculoskeletal care. Learn more about the payment policy changes: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/payment-policy-changes/   Guest: Patricia Ketsche, Ph.D., MBA,  Associate Professor Emerita, Institute of Health Administration, Georgia State University Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Advocacy Council

At the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting, new host and Advocacy Council Chair Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, recorded a live, on-site interview with Austin Beason, MD, who is Chair of the Resident Assembly and host of the AAOS Career Podcast. They discussed the value of increasing resident involvement in political advocacy as the future leaders of musculoskeletal health, whether it is by participating in grassroots via the Advocacy Action Center, joining the PAC, or becoming engaged with state orthopaedic societies.  Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair Advocacy Council  Guest: Austin Beason, MD, Chair Resident Assembly  Additional Notes:  Learn more about how residents can get involved: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/get-involved/residents-advocacy/ Learn more about the Orthopaedic PAC: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/pac/

This final episode of the three-part series for AAOS’ Orthopaedic Advocacy Week discusses reducing and preventing physician mental health issues. Following the moving story of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide while working on the front lines of the pandemic, the conversation features powerful perspectives on breaking down the stigma and increasing access to treatment—starting with passage of the legislation named in her honor, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. (Rep. Susan Wild interview recorded on 7/14 and Corey Feist interview recorded on 7/27) Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation AAOS advocacy on physician mental health Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Jennifer Weiss, MD, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Communications Committee

This part two episode of a three-part series for AAOS’ Orthopaedic Advocacy Week focuses on ensuring that flexibilities for valuable telemedicine services remain post-pandemic. Adam S. Levin, MD, FAAOS, who helped rapidly introduce a robust telemedicine program for the Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Department during a five-day period, interviews U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) on his recently introduced Telehealth Modernization Act. Learn more at AAOS.org Hosted by: Adam S. Levin, MD, FAAOS, Johns Hopkins Hospital

This part one episode of a three-part series on the issues AAOS is raising during Orthopaedic Advocacy Week focuses on prior authorization reform. In interviews with the original co-sponsors of the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act,” we discuss how the bipartisan, bicameral legislation will help protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage program. Learn more at AAOS. Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director

AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, extends a special invitation for members to participate in Orthopaedic Advocacy Week May 24-28, 2021. He explains how the new, completely virtual event is different from previous advocacy opportunities, what issues orthopaedic surgeons will raise with lawmakers, and why individual participation is “paramount” for amplifying year-long advocacy efforts on healthcare policy issues impacting musculoskeletal care. Learn more and sign up for the event. Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Cavan Jones, AAOS Government Relations Director

Prior authorization paperwork, insurance battles over setting of care, and EHR documentation challenges are just a few of the many ways that government policies can stand in the way of patient care. In this episode with new AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, we discuss the threats we’re fighting in 2021 and how these rules and regulations impact orthopaedic surgery from Capitol Hill to the operating room. Learn more at AAOS. Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director

At only two months into the new administration, partisan politics remain center stage in the healthcare policy debate. President Biden’s healthcare nominees are stuck in limbo, key congressional committees are slow to take shape, and Republicans and Democrats remain sharply divided over Coronavirus relief efforts. National Journal Health Care Correspondent Erin Durkin explains how these competing priorities around pandemic response, insurance coverage, telehealth, disparities and value-based care may impact what the 117th Congress can realistically accomplish. (Recorded on 2/11/21) Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director

For decades, health insurers have been exempt from antitrust laws and allowed to act as a monopoly setting rates and maximizing profits—until now. Enactment of new legislation removes the McCarran-Ferguson Act which has protected insurers since 1945 and now requires them to follow the same free-market rules as the rest of the health care industry. In this episode, we talk with an antitrust expert about why it took so long to repeal this unfair policy and how the new law will introduce more choice and opportunity into the marketplace. Hosted by: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Catherine Hayes, AAOS Senior Director of Government Relations