Members encourage AAOS to broaden its advocacy efforts to address regulatory and economic challenges, particularly around reimbursements and the needs of private practice. They also emphasize the importance of creating opportunities for meaningful member engagement in advocacy initiatives.

 

“You need to be more in touch with the private practice side of orthopaedics as opposed to the corporate side. Those of us in private practice are making less and less each year. Hospital affiliated physicians are hurt much less than truly private physicians are.” – Active Fellow Member

“Private practice is dying. I am no longer proud of being a doctor. Insurance and large corporations have overtaken our profession. AAOS and other organizations need to organize us to do something bold to take back medicine for the patients and us.” – Active Fellow Member 

"Improved advocacy for improving orthopaedic surgeon pay (and actual results not just an agenda to that end that never results in anything)." – Candidate Member 

What We’ve Done/AAOS Action Plan

The AAOS Office of Government Relations is always making sure the priorities of orthopaedic surgeons are front and center with Congress and the Executive Branch. In 2025, OGR’s advocacy focused on payment reform, prior authorization, physician owned hospitals, and MSK research funding.