Stay ConnectedThe AAOS Now podcast is a monthly series that spotlights hotly debated issues and controversial trends in orthopaedic surgery. Each episode presents nuanced perspectives to inspire further discourse, inform your decision-making — and maybe even change your mind. Part of The Bone Beat Orthopaedic Podcast Channel.
Brought to you by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Copyright: © 2020-2023 American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. All rights reserved.
In this episode, Dr. Lundy interviews three AAOS members who have different perspectives on the role of consolidation in the advancement of musculoskeletal care. Listeners will hear from them on the pros and cons of consolidation and learn more about how consolidation will influence future trends in the practice of orthopaedic surgery.
Additional links and resources:
Podcast episode on "Repeal of Antitrust Exemption for Health Insurers": https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-15/
FAQ on consolidation: https://www.aaos.org/globalassets/advocacy/issues/faqs-on-hospital-consolidation.pdf
AAOS Advocacy Action Center: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/
Guests: James W. Barber, M.D., Southeastern Orthopaedics; Frederic E. Liss, M.D., Rothman Orthopaedic Institute; Ronald A. Navarro, M.D., Kaiser Permanente
Host: Douglas Lundy, M.D., MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair
This second episode in our series on consolidation in healthcare centers around the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) role of enforcing the nation's antitrust laws and ensuring competition within the industry. Special guest Mark D. Seidman, Assistant Director for the Mergers IV Division at the FTC, explains how the agency investigates mergers and their impact on the future of healthcare delivery.
Guest: Mark D. Seidman, Assistant Director for the Mergers IV Division at the Federal Trade Commission
Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair
The consolidation of hospitals, practices, and the healthcare market in general is a hot button issue which remains ever-present for orthopaedic surgeons. AAOS Advocacy Council Chair and podcast host Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS explores the trend and its impact on musculoskeletal care from various angles in this three-part series. In Part 1 with health policy analyst Brian Miller, MD, MBA, MPH, they identify the pros and cons of consolidation and how the federal government is handling potential downsides.
Additional links and resources:
Health Affairs article on the topic from Drs. Brian Miller, MD, MBA, MPH, and James Ficke, MD, FAAOS: https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20210408.980640/full/
Podcast episode on “Lifting Restrictions on Physician-Owned Hospitals”: https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-7/
AAOS Advocacy Action Center: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/
Guest: Brian Miller, MD, MBA, MPH, Hospitalist and Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair
Insurer influence on the practice of orthopaedic surgery continues to increase. The implementation of the No Surprises Act on Jan. 1, along with the ongoing administrative burden and delayed patient care caused by prior authorization requirements, will bring additional challenges to both physicians and patients in the year ahead. In this episode, Tony DaRe from the national employee benefits consulting firm BSI Corporate Benefits discusses the ways in which orthopaedic surgeons can advocate for and with their patients to overcome insurer challenges and improve the system.
Learn more about BSI Corporate Benefits: https://bsicorporate.com/about-us/
Guest: Tony DaRe, CEO and Agency Principal at BSI Corporate Benefits
Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair
Orthopaedic surgery is set to face reductions in Medicare reimbursement and changes to the process for resolving surprise medical bills beginning Jan. 1, 2022. AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, sits down with senior staff from the AAOS Office of Government Relations to explain these healthcare policy changes, what the AAOS has been doing to preserve the value of surgical services, including recent updates from Capitol Hill, and how these issues will continue to play out in 2022.
October podcast episode on Economic Effects of Medicare Pay Cuts: https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-23/
November podcast episode on Preventing Surprise Medical Bills: https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-24/
Guests: Shreyasi Deb, PhD, MBA, AAOS Senior Director of Health Policy; Catherine Hayes, MPP, AAOS Senior Director of Government Relations
Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair
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.
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/
Guest: Austin Beason, MD, Chair Resident Assembly
Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair Advocacy Council
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
Hosts: 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.
Host: Adam S. Levin, MD, FAAOS, Johns Hopkins Hospital
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