News & Updates: July 2022
AAOS Opportunities 
Orthopaedic Advocacy Week
AAOS leadership, in conjunction with the Office of Government Relations, is hosting a second annual Orthopaedic Advocacy Week from August 1-5. Similar to the inaugural event in 2021 (see recap infographic), this completely virtual opportunity is designed to offer members simple, minute-long ways to advocate for priority healthcare policy issues.  

All AAOS members in the U.S. are invited and encouraged to participate. We need the engagement of members nationwide to amplify the orthopaedic voice!

Sign up by July 29 to participate, encourage your colleagues to do the same, and let's get ready for #OrthoAdvocacyinAction! Click here to sign up now.
OrthoPAC Day of Giving: August 5, 2022
The AAOS Orthopaedic PAC (OrthoPAC) Day of Giving, part of the second annual AAOS Orthopaedic Advocacy Week, will be August 5th. Please contribute to the OrthoPAC, the most effective advocacy tool that we have, which allows us to have a seat at the table when pivotal decisions affecting our industry are being made. Through the OrthoPAC, we can work together to fix the burdensome prior authorization process and fight Medicare payment cuts. For details on the OrthoPAC Day of Giving, including an exciting new PAC charity match benefit, please see below:
 
2022 PAC CHARITY MATCH & SWEEPSTAKES
The theme for this year’s OrthoPAC Day of Giving is “Get Invested” as the PAC highlights the need for each member to invest in AAOS’ advocacy efforts. To that end, OrthoPAC is pleased to provide the Get Invested – Winner’s Choice Sweepstakes and the new OrthoPAC Charity Match benefit. OrthoPAC donors that contribute between July 7th and August 7th will have the option to match your PAC donation with a donation to one 501c3 charity of your choice. The charity donation will be made directly to the non-profit organization. AAOS will be allocating up to $100,000 for this year’s event. Text PACMatch to 41444. Additionally, OrthoPAC donors (retroactive to Jan. 1, ,2022) will be entered into the Winner’s Choice Sweepstakes to win a luxury vacation. Text SWEEPS to 41444.
AAOS Committee Appointment Program (CAP)
Apply by Aug. 1
AAOS leadership encourages members to apply for a volunteer position on one of the many AAOS councils, committees, and advisory boards. The Committee Appointment Program (CAP) Volunteer Applications Period is currently open. Members who have an interest in contributing to the mission and vision of AAOS are encouraged to visit www.aaos.org/cap from now until to August 1, 2022 to view and apply for available volunteer positions within the AAOS governance structure.

It is our goal to facilitate broad participation across members from diverse backgrounds, including age, race, gender, geography, and practice setting, as well as match members with the appropriate position based on their experience and expertise.

Member username and password are required to view and apply for positions of interest. Volunteers should keep in mind that the Committee Appointment Program is designed so interested members can view only positions for which their membership category is eligible to apply. For additional information regarding the CAP System and Process, members can visit: CAP Process.
2022 SCOA Annual Meeting
Registration Underway: 2022 SCOA Annual Meeting
August 4-6, 2022
Sanctuary Hotel
Kiawah Island, SC
The South Carolina Orthopaedic Association invites you to join us for a weekend full of education, collegiality, and networking in Kiawah Island!
Keynote Highlights Include:
Developing High Performing Teams & Individuals
Chris Penso
-Olympic and MLS Referee

Chris will draw on his extensive experience as a full-time professional referee for elite soccer to share insights on developing high performing teams and individuals.

His dynamic experience includes MLS Referee since 2009, having refereed over 200 regular season games; FIFA Video Match Official since 2021; 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics – 1st official to ever work both the Men’s & Women’s Gold Medal matches; FIFA Referee 2013-2015; MLS All-Star Game 2016; MLS Cup VAR 2018, 2021; 6x NCAA Men’s College Cup Referee; 2x NCAA Men’s Division 1 National Championship Referee; and Coordinator of Officials for American Athletic Conference
Dynamic Physician Leadership: Lessons Learned
Jeff Kneisl, MD
-Chief Surgical Officer, Atrium Health Greater Charlotte Region
-Executive Vice Chairman, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute
-Marie-Claire Marroum MD Distinguished Chair Of Orthopaedic Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

25 years as a practicing orthopaedic oncologist greatly enhance Dr. Kneisl’s leadership in multiple roles within Atrium Health. As both the business of healthcare delivery and treatment opportunities evolve quickly, seasoned pysician leaders are essential to effectively navigate the disruption of change toward meaningful improvement. Dr. Kneisl will share his experience and lessons learned as a physician leader in a large health system in hopes of encouraging us to embrace the challenges of leadership with optimism and zeal.
Please note: A $50 surcharge will apply to all registrations effective
August 3, 2022.
CMS Activity
AAOS Summary of CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: What Physicians Need to Know
The Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) has been released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The conversion factor, which is the primary factor determining increases or decreases to overall payment rates in the Medicare physician fee schedule, will be reduced from $34.61 to $33.08 resulting in a nearly 4.5% cut as of Jan. 1, 2023. Additionally, physicians face a looming 4% cut to physician reimbursement due to a congressionally mandated budget mechanism known as PAYGO. Without congressional action, orthopaedic surgeons and most physicians will experience an 8.5% cut to Medicare reimbursement beginning Jan. 1, 2023. Visit the AAOS Advocacy Action Center to advocate for Payment Policy Changes.

Other proposals worth review include new valuations for multiple ortho-specific CPT codes; continuing to use time or medical decision making as determinants for E/M levels with clarification that the full time (not mid-point) described by the CPT must be met; removing “subspecialty” from CPT descriptions; and a request for comment on improving global surgical package valuation.

Click here to read the full AAOS Summary. 

Additional Information:
CY 2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System Proposed Rule 
The 2023 OPPS/ASC Payment System Proposed Rule was published on July 15, 2022. The comment period ends September 13. Notable MSK implications are outlined below.

Update to ASC payment rate: 2.7% contingent on meeting relevant quality reporting requirements

Removal from Inpatient Only List: CPT 22632 > Arthrodesis, posterior interbody technique, including laminectomy and/or discectomy to prepare interspace (other than decompression), single interspace; each additional interspace

Changes to ASC Covered Procedures List: no MSK procedures added

Separate Payment for Non-Opioid Pain management Drugs that function as surgical supplies: Seeking comments and data on expanding this policy; continue separate payment for Exparel (C9290); Zynrelef (C9088) already has drug pass-through payment status and will not also receive separate payment in this category

Prior Authorization Required for HOPD procedures: Facet Joint Interventions as of 3/1/23

Click here to view the CMS Fact Sheet
Join Us For A Webinar!
Marketing, Social Media, & The Physician Practice:
Legal Implications
Thursday, August 11th | 1:00-2:00 PM (ET)
Remember when “marketing” was limited to newspaper or magazine ads, television commercials and billboards? All those options required significant lead time and multiple proofs before the ads were deployed.

Today’s technology allows us (and others!) to post or upload images, videos, messages, and slogans to multiple platforms with a click and limited safeguards to proof the content in advance. Often individual physicians maintain an online presence outside of the practice’s approved marketing plan. Providers and employees generate posts without practice approval or input to include responding to negative online reviews. Practices utilize text messaging as a communication and marketing tool without understanding the legal obligations of doing so. How can a physician’s practice protect itself while still leveraging today’s technology?
 
Join us as seasoned healthcare attorney Tatiana Melnik explores the unique legal implications for medical practices as they navigate modern marketing platforms. She will outline potential risks and offer practical guidance to mitigate them.
The webinar is a free educational offering for our members.
Please follow the instructions to register for the event.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
SCOA Foundation Fundraiser
The South Carolina Orthopaedic Association is currently raising funds for the SCOA Foundation and we need YOUR support in reaching our $20,000 goal by the Annual Meeting (August 4-6, 2022).
Those who donate will have their name featured on signage at the 2022 Annual Meeting registration desk, receive a special ribbon, and are invited to the SCOA Foundation Donor Appreciation Reception!
Learn On Your Schedule
Replay Past Webinars in the Webinar Archive!
Past webinar topics include:
  • ​Physician Financial Relationships & Conflict of Interest Policies
  • Online Patient Journey & the Physician Practice Part 1: Reputation Management
  • BRACE YOURSELF with Compliance Tools for Medicare’s new DME Requirements
  • Making MIPS Work for Orthopaedics
  • ​Short-staffed. Short-tempered. Short-timer.
  • And more!
Member Benefit: Discover OrthoEvidence
Our members receive complimentary access to OrthoEvidence (OE), which is the global online source for high quality and timely orthopaedic-only evidence-based summaries, pre-appraised by orthopaedic medical experts.
Thank You To Our Corporate Partner:
South Carolina Orthopaedic Association www.scoanet.org
844-234-7800