The AAOS Advocacy Action Center can help transform healthcare

As orthopaedic surgeons, AAOS members uniquely understand what high-quality musculoskeletal care looks like — and the challenges that impede it.

Advocacy does not have to mean traveling to Washington or knowing every detail about a bill. It starts with telling your story, educating decision-makers, and standing up for your patients and profession.

Still, taking the first step in being an orthopaedic advocate comes with its fair share of questions: Who should I reach out to? What should I say? Earlier this year, AAOS launched its newly redesigned Advocacy Action Center, built to streamline the advocacy process so that you can make a change with just a few clicks. Members can visit aaos.quorum.us year-round to learn more about lawmakers and policy issues and get involved.

Meet with your legislators
Unsure of who your legislators are or how to get in contact with them? Start by visiting the Who Are My Legislators page to meet the elected officials representing your community in Congress.

For a more detailed look at which AAOS-endorsed policies your legislators have endorsed, check out the AAOS Legislative Scorecard. There you will find a comprehensive look at the committees they serve on, the number of AAOS members in their districts, and any relevant healthcare background they may have.

If you are ready to take action and meet with your legislator, simply visit the Request A Meeting page and the system will send a pre-written note to the representative’s office.

Or, if you prefer to take action from home, you can call the office directly with a script provided by AAOS on the importance of championing musculoskeletal care in Congress. AAOS also keeps an up-to-date list of relevant staffers and schedulers to help ease the process of reaching out or setting up a meeting.

Learn about policy priorities
The legislative and regulatory issues impacting orthopaedic surgeons today — including prior authorization, Medicare payment reform, and physician-led hospitals — are often parts of complex systems or rooted in years of policy.

The best way to remain engaged in the fight for high-quality musculoskeletal care is by staying up to date on today’s issues. For a high-level overview of policy priorities, relevant bills moving through Congress, and ways to take action, members are encouraged to visit the Resources hub.

Keep the momentum going
Members can take action at any time through the Campaigns page. Whether you are passionate about a specific issue impacting your practice or just want to send a general message to your legislator, your personal stories help illustrate the real-world impacts of health policy and drive change.

Case study
The year-round efforts of its membership, combined with the intel and expertise of the Office of Government Relations in Washington, D.C., allow AAOS to fine-tune its advocacy efforts for maximum impact.

Earlier this year, AAOS experienced a pivotal moment in the fight for prior-authorization reform. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514) — which would deliver electronic prior authorization, standardized documentation, and greater transparency in Medicare Advantage prior authorization — was just 10 cosponsors shy of a House majority. Hitting 218 would signal enough support for the bill to pass and increase pressure on House leadership to bring the bill to a vote.

Thanks to the revamped advocacy system, AAOS was able to connect directly with members whose representatives had not yet endorsed this legislation.

Members were able to send customized, prewritten messages to their representatives based on whether they had supported a similar bill in the 118th Congress. All it required was a few clicks from advocates to confirm their support.

These targeted messages, combined with ongoing messages from AAOS members on the challenges of prior authorization, helped bring H.R. 3514 to reach a majority of 225 cosponsors. Of the 15 new cosponsors, 14 received grassroots letters from AAOS members on this legislation.

By teaming up with your colleagues, networks, and AAOS, you can move the needle on the policies impacting musculoskeletal care. Share your story and build a better healthcare system for your fellow physicians and patients.

Take the first step today by visiting aaos.quorum.us.