S. 1548/ H.R. 1021 - Access to America's Orthopaedic Services Act

H.R. 1021 - Access to America's Orthopaedic Services Act was introduced on February 12, 2009 by Representative Gene Green (D-TX) and Representative Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX). The Senate version of the AAOS Act was introduced on July 30, 2009 by Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). This bill will improve the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions in the United States. In addition, the legislation addresses the fundamental need to educate the Congress and the public on the burden of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions and aims to identify and analyze health care disparities within the orthopaedic specialty, particularly among communities of color.

Provisions of the bill include:

• Providing reports to Congress, issued by various government agencies, to analyze the extent to which musculoskeletal research is being funded; to collect data on the number of new investigators entering the research field; and to identify existing trauma care initiatives in order to enhance cooperation across federal agencies;
• Urging the Office of Minority Health to consider musculoskeletal diseases and conditions as an additional health priority;
• Advising the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to issue recommendations for a standard cost-effective modality for measuring bone density;
• Promoting bone health initiatives among adolescent girls through the Office of Women’s Health; and,
• Increasing agency reporting requirements to improve the treatment and management of musculoskeletal disease across various populations and to reduce disease burden and injury among children and the elderly.

Please take action and urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor of the AAOS Act of 2009 today!

• Ask your Representatives to cosponsor the AAOS Act of 2009
• Ask your Senators to cosponsor the AAOS Act of 2009
• Bill Text: S. 1548 / H.R. 1021 (in PDF format)
• Fact Sheet: S. 1548 / H.R. 1021 (in PDF format)
• AAOS Act Press Release