The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently went through a comprehensive multi-year process to re-imagine its core focus and aspirational state to be the trusted leaders in advancing musculoskeletal health. Members of the AAOS Presidential Line provide behind-the-scenes perspective that explores the need for change, and how these c…

This episode covers an array of topics related to increasing consolidation within the healthcare system, from banning non-competes to tightening cybersecurity. OrthoForum CEO Karen Simonton offers her perspective and wealth of knowledge, having worked with orthopaedic groups over the last decade, on how this changing landscape is impacting private …

Comedian and ophthalmologist Dr. Will Flanary, better known as Dr. Glaucomflecken by his 4 million followers on social media, recently sat down for an exclusive interview during the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting. He shared his story of going from patient to accidental healthcare advocate and explained how he uses medical satire to entertain and bring at…

Recorded on Monday, February 12 at the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting, this episode sits down with the current and former chairs of the AAOS Orthopaedic PAC to celebrate its 25th anniversary. They discuss its new logo and tagline, key milestones and advocacy victories over the years, the importance of political engagement for physicians, as well as on-si…

In this episode, returning guest and health policy researcher Brian Miller, MD, talks about the opportunity physicians have to improve care for patients outside of their regular practice. From engaging in advocacy efforts to lending their unique perspective in policy discussions, doctors can be instrumental in finding creative solutions to today’s …

In this episode, we talk about the future of orthopaedics and the policy challenges facing our newest surgeons. Resident leader Kevin Weisz, MD, who recently attended the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., shares his perspective on issues such as prior authorization, safety in the workplace, as well as reimbursement. Gu…

Now more than ever, physicians are experiencing instability and uncertainty in their payment reimbursement. This episode addresses the gap between physician reimbursements and the rising costs of running a medical practice continues to widen in addition to other important legislative issues. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) has been …

As the shift towards value-based healthcare reform gains momentum, there will be major strategic and organizational changes to how care delivery is redesigned, measured, and reimbursed. This episode delves into the realm of value-based care, exploring fundamental concepts related to alternative payment models in clinical orthopaedics, and how Patie…

Episode Summary: The House of Delegates is the legislative and policy-making body within the American Medical Association (AMA). In this episode, orthopaedic surgeon and AMA Board of Trustees Member Dr. Michael Suk explains how the specialty is represented within the House of Medicine and how initiatives to advance the quality of musculoskeletal ca…

Lengthy prior authorization processes delay care for patients and contribute to physician burnout. Using Texas as a case study, this episode explains how solutions like the federal version of the state’s GOLD Card law would streamline approvals for medically necessary care as well as make insurance requirements more electronic and transparent. More…

Innovation in orthopaedic care faces stiff headwinds, but the relationships among stakeholders are not zero-sum. Following the in-person AAOS/FDA Townhall during the 2023 AAOS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, leaders from both organizations sat down for an intimate conversation on the ways we can evolve together to improve patient care. They emphasized…

The debate over the pros and cons of physician-owned hospitals has spanned over a decade. Now as momentum builds in Congress to repeal restrictions on their growth and expansion, this episode explains how they help meet a growing demand for services, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and are an important piece of increasing competition i…

It has been two years since the No Surprises Act was passed into law, yet it continues to face numerous legal challenges and iterations of rulemaking with regards to implementation. This episode dives into the latest developments and discusses what is and is not working with a guest expert focused on independent dispute resolution for healthcare pr…

In his last episode as podcast host and chair of the AAOS Advocacy Council, Dr. Douglas Lundy passes the torch to orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr. Adam Bruggeman. Recorded live at the 2023 Annual Meeting, Drs. Lundy and Bruggeman run through some of the most pressing issues threatening musculoskeletal care. Guest: Adam Bruggeman, MD, FAAOS, Incoming C…

As we approach International Women’s Day 2023, this episode from the vault discusses the power that women bring to orthopaedic advocacy. AAOS leader, political pro, and seasoned advocate Claudette Lajam, MD, FAAOS, explains how their unique empathy towards patients and perspective on issues are invaluable to policy discussions and advancing musculo…

This episode features a conversation with two physician members of Congress: U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08), who spent 15 years in the private sector as a cardiothoracic surgeon, and Greg Murphy, MD (NC-03) who is a practicing urologist. They discuss how the Healthy Future Task Force is tackling policy problems in the 118th Congress…

A myriad of important health policy decisions impacting orthopaedic surgery are made at the state-level, including health insurance regulation, certificate-of-need and scope of practice issues, to name only a few. In this episode, orthopaedic hand surgeon and Georgia State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, MD, FAAOS shares her perspective on state advocacy,…

Following the 2022 midterm election, AAOS political experts recap how candidates supported by the Orthopaedic PAC fared, as well as the new physician leaders elected to Congress. They explain the importance of the lame duck session and how Congress has the opportunity to pass two bills before the end of the year that are critically important to the…

In this episode recorded just weeks out from the 2022 midterm election, AAOS’ Senior Political Director breaks down the physicians currently in Congress, those at risk for re-election, and new candidates vying for office. They explain the importance of physician representation at the federal level for key decision-making as well as civic engagement…

In this episode, advocacy leaders from the AAOS review proposed payment policy changes for 2023 in the inpatient and outpatient setting including ongoing cuts to reimbursement in the annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. They summarize each of the three regulatory rules, highlight changes specific to musculoskeletal care, then discuss the careful…

AAOS is the leading voice for musculoskeletal health, but its voice is only as strong as its members are unified despite their vast differences in sub specialization and political ideology. In this episode, former AAOS President Gerald Williams, Jr., MD, FAAOS makes the case that coming together as one national orthopaedic organization and staying …

Workplace violence in the healthcare setting occurs four times more often than in the average workplace and recently claimed the life of an orthopaedic surgeon in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This episode features a conversation with two AAOS leaders working to make a difference: one who chairs AAOS’ Patient Safety Committee and the other who is a sworn police…

AAOS Advocacy extends beyond the halls of Capitol Hill to ensure that quality initiatives continue to improve patient outcomes and reduce administrative burden. In this episode, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair and podcast host Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS sits down with James Huddleston III, MD, FAAOS Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford Hospi…

In this episode, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair and podcast host Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS sits down with Al Olszewski, MD, FAAOS (R-MT) to discuss his 2022 campaign for Congress. They discuss Dr. Al’s path to politics, why it’s important for orthopaedic surgeons to be involved politically, and how politicians can work together in the best interes…

In this episode, Dr. Lundy interviews three AAOS members who have different perspectives on the role of consolidation in the advancement of musculoskeletal care. Listeners will hear from them on the pros and cons of consolidation and learn more about how consolidation will influence future trends in the practice of orthopaedic surgery. Additional l…

This second episode in our series on consolidation in healthcare centers around the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) role of enforcing the nation's antitrust laws and ensuring competition within the industry. Special guest Mark D. Seidman, Assistant Director for the Mergers IV Division at the FTC, explains how the agency investigates mergers and th…

The consolidation of hospitals, practices, and the healthcare market in general is a hot button issue which remains ever-present for orthopaedic surgeons. AAOS Advocacy Council Chair and podcast host Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS explores the trend and its impact on musculoskeletal care from various angles in this three-part series. In Part 1 with …

Insurer influence on the practice of orthopaedic surgery continues to increase. The implementation of the No Surprises Act on Jan. 1, along with the ongoing administrative burden and delayed patient care caused by prior authorization requirements, will bring additional challenges to both physicians and patients in the year ahead. In this episode, T…

Orthopaedic surgery is set to face reductions in Medicare reimbursement and changes to the process for resolving surprise medical bills beginning Jan. 1, 2022. AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, sits down with senior staff from the AAOS Office of Government Relations to explain these healthcare policy changes, what the AA…

The issue of patients receiving unanticipated medical bills is back in the national spotlight. It rose to prominence in 2019, consumed the attention of policymakers in 2020, and is the focus of newly released regulations designed to implement the “No Surprises Act,” which passed in late 2020. This episode, with interviews from an AAOS member expert…

Orthopaedic surgery is set to face an up to 10% reduction in Medicare reimbursement beginning in 2022. This discussion with a healthcare economist dives into the effects that these cuts will have on physician practices and patient care amidst our nation’s growing healthcare expenditures. Participants discuss the government’s reasoning behind the cu…

At the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting, new host and Advocacy Council Chair Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, recorded a live, on-site interview with Austin Beason, MD, who is Chair of the Resident Assembly and host of the AAOS Career Podcast. They discussed the value of increasing resident involvement in political advocacy as the future leaders of musculosk…

This final episode of the three-part series for AAOS’ Orthopaedic Advocacy Week discusses reducing and preventing physician mental health issues. Following the moving story of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide while working on the front lines of the pandemic, the conversation features powerful perspectives on breaking down…

This part two episode of a three-part series for AAOS’ Orthopaedic Advocacy Week focuses on ensuring that flexibilities for valuable telemedicine services remain post-pandemic. Adam S. Levin, MD, FAAOS, who helped rapidly introduce a robust telemedicine program for the Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Department during a five-day period, interviews U.S. R…

This part one episode of a three-part series on the issues AAOS is raising during Orthopaedic Advocacy Week focuses on prior authorization reform. In interviews with the original co-sponsors of the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act,” we discuss how the bipartisan, bicameral legislation will help protect patients from unnecessary delays …

AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, extends a special invitation for members to participate in Orthopaedic Advocacy Week May 24-28, 2021. He explains how the new, completely virtual event is different from previous advocacy opportunities, what issues orthopaedic surgeons will raise with lawmakers, and why individual participation is “paramount…

Prior authorization paperwork, insurance battles over setting of care, and EHR documentation challenges are just a few of the many ways that government policies can stand in the way of patient care. In this episode with new AAOS Advocacy Council Chair Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, we discuss the threats we’re fighting in 2021 and how these rule…

At only two months into the new administration, partisan politics remain center stage in the healthcare policy debate. President Biden’s healthcare nominees are stuck in limbo, key congressional committees are slow to take shape, and Republicans and Democrats remain sharply divided over Coronavirus relief efforts. National Journal Health Care Corre…

For decades, health insurers have been exempt from antitrust laws and allowed to act as a monopoly setting rates and maximizing profits—until now. Enactment of new legislation removes the McCarran-Ferguson Act which has protected insurers since 1945 and now requires them to follow the same free-market rules as the rest of the health care industry. …

Recounting the ways AAOS shaped health policy in the year 2020 cannot be done without mentioning COVID-19. What began as a year dedicated to encouraging physician burden relief and resolving surprise medical billing, quickly turned into a rapid transformation of telehealth and fight for relief to preserve access to musculoskeletal services. NYC-bas…

Bundled payment programs are designed to promote value-based care and remain largely voluntary. With the deadline to renew or modify contracts rapidly approaching and Medicare’s acceleration towards mandatory models, a four-person panel with varying perspectives discusses whether linking payments to clinical episodes can reduce Medicare expenditure…

Biologics are increasingly being marketed and used to improve outcomes for orthopaedic patients, but the requirements for evidence of safety and effectiveness vary greatly. Leaders from the AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics & Technology discuss the regulatory landscape, the AAOS Biologics Initiative, and the Academy’s investment in this evolving…

With the U.S. general election just one week away, much is at stake for the physician community. Orthopaedic PAC Executive Committee Treasurer Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FAAOS, and former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and Oregon State House Representative Knute Buehler, MD, FAAOS, discuss the upcoming election and orthopaedic surgeons’…

AAOS physician leaders discuss Medicare’s proposal to eliminate the inpatient-only list (IPO) beginning with 266 musculoskeletal procedures. They recount the unresolved challenges with only recently removing several procedures from the list, and the critical opportunity for orthopaedic surgeons to lead the decision-making process with patients and …

In this episode, produced in partnership with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), advocacy leaders from both organizations discuss the payment policy changes that have been proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency is reducing all orthopaedic surgical services by approximately 5% and reducing the wo…

Orthopaedic surgeons across the U.S. are engaging with members of Congress this August as part of AAOS’ In-District Advocacy Event. AAOS First Vice President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, talks about the policy issues they’re raising with legislators and why grassroots advocacy is a powerful tool for strengthening the voice of the musculoskeletal commu…

Physician-owned hospitals provide some of the highest quality care, at the lowest cost. Yet since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, they have been prohibited from expanding or establishing new facilities to meet the growing demand for services. Congressman Michael Burgess, MD (TX-26), explains why restrictions on this competitive force in Ame…

Structural inequities and barriers to health care existed prior to COVID-19. But the pandemic has put a spotlight on the problem, which has also recently become the focus of advocacy efforts nationwide. In this episode, Movement is Life Chair Mary O’Connor, MD, FAAOS, explains how public policy and individual surgeons together can strengthen commun…

As the only national political action committee dedicated solely to representing orthopaedic surgeons before Congress, the nonpartisan Orthopaedic PAC is a powerful tool for advancing AAOS priorities. Chairman John T. Gill, MD, FAAOS, explains how it continues to break records as a $4 million-dollar PAC, produce award-winning campaigns and support …

In this second add-on episode dedicated to COVID-19, Dr. Marion Couch from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shares details on the agency’s response to the pandemic. She covers the sweeping regulatory changes made to support America's health care system, the gradual resumption of non-emergent surgeries and procedures, as well as CO…