AAOS to Lobby Congress on Fiscal Cliff Issues

By Laura Miller| November 28, 2012

On November 29, 2012, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons is hosting a fly-in for its members to lobby Congress on orthopedic issues at the center of fiscal cliff negotiations, such as the sustainable growth rate, sequestration and access to timely orthopedic care.

"There are many concerning issues currently being discussed by Congress behind closed doors," said AAOS President John R. Tongue, MD, in a news release. "AAOS is headed to Capitol Hill to ensure that our patients' interests are communicated to our policy makers during these negotiations. Patient choice and patient access to care could be significantly restricted if responsible decisions are not made during this fiscally uncertain time."

Orthopedic surgeons will speak with congressional members to prevent physician payment cuts being triggered at the end of the year, which could lead to fewer Medicare patients with access to orthopedic care. The organization will also advocate for preserving in-office ancillary services exception to the Stark Law, allowing physicians to provide advanced imaging and physical therapy services in their offices.

"The IOAS exception is an integral resource for musculoskeletal patients, as it enables them to receive timely, coordinated, accessible screenings and therapeutic services from the comfort of the doctor's office," says Dr. Tongue. "Increased utilization of appropriate services equals increased access to medically necessary care. Increased utilization only equals over-utilization when the treatments are not medically necessary. The AAOS is invested in quality initiatives to ensure that only clinically appropriate services are performed on our patients."