This fall, turn to ESPR

Maureen Finnegan, MD

The 2012 elections are just around the corner Like many Americans, you are concerned about the state of affairs in Washington. But without a personal contact, you may wonder what difference one lonely orthopaedic surgeon can make. As it turns out, a single orthopaedic voice can make a lot of difference. Although you can choose from several paths to get involved, one of the easiest pathways to involvement is known as ESPR.

Homelessness and orthopaedics: What you need to know

Neil M. Issar, BSc; Alex A. Jahangir, MD; Mallory Powell; William T. Obremskey, MD, MPH; Manish K. Sethi, MD

The homeless population is a complex patient cohort that orthopaedic surgeons will undoubtedly face. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 649,917 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons nationwide as of January 2010. Additionally, about 1.59 million people used an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program during the 12-month period between Oct.1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2010.

A second look at physician fee payments

Matthew J. Twetten, MA; Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA

Health Affairs article triggers questions on methodology, conclusions Are physician fee payments primarily responsible for rising healthcare costs in the United States? That was what media outlets inferred from an article that appeared in the September 2011 edition of the journal Health Affairs. In a time of budget balancing and deficit reduction, such a conclusion could result in targeting physician fees as a way to control costs. Although the study was titled “Higher Fees Paid to U.S.

States ramp up exchange efforts

Madeleine Lovette

Federal guidance needed as deadline approaches Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), American Health Benefit Exchanges (exchanges) must be up and running by Jan. 1, 2014. These exchanges are designed to facilitate the purchase of individual health insurance coverage for those who qualify. In addition, the PPACA also requires the creation of Small Business Health Options Programs (SHOPs) to enable small businesses with up to 100 employees to purchase coverage.

Second Look—Advocacy

If you missed these Headline News Now items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. Headline News Now—the AAOS thrice-weekly, online update of news of interest to orthopaedic surgeons—brings you the latest on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, as well as important announcements from AAOS.

AAOS Opposes MedPAC’s SGR “Fix”

Richard J. Martin, JD; Madeleine Lovette

On October 6, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted 15–2 in favor of adopting a proposal to repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that establishes physician pay under Medicare. Under the proposal, current payment rates would remain flat for primary care physicians over the next decade and payments to specialists would be cut.