IPAB
In a session about IPAB, Chris Dawe, a professional staff member at the Senate Finance Committee, said that while the full-time nature of the board excludes practicing physicians from taking part, the administration is looking for ways to involve “those on the front line.” He said IPAB is one of the administration’s top priorities, along with developing a permanent fix to the sustainable growth rate by the end of the year, according to the report.
Representative Phil Roe, MD, (R-Tenn.) also spoke at the session and encouraged physicians to support HR 452, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, to repeal IPAB.
PPACA
An additional session about PPACA implementation discussed the most significant changes, which won’t be implemented until 2014, and include expanding Medicaid coverage, health insurance exchanges and requiring individuals to have coverage. Alan Weil, JD, MPP, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, said it would be important for physicians to be involved in further decision making processes and advocate at the state level for the ability to improve healthcare delivery.
The session also included a discussion of accountable care organizations. Orthopedists can collaborate in multiple groups focused on cost savings. Musculoskeletal care accounts for 17 percent of all healthcare dollars, according to the report, so the potential for saving in the future is significant.
Read the AAOS Now report on the 2011 National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference.
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AAOS: Orthopedic Research Lacking in Level I Studies
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AAOS: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Impacts Recovery From Orthopedic Trauma
