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 and what's on the agenda for the Doctor/Patient Relationship Subcommittee, designed to empower Americans to have a personalized health care plan.

Guests: U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08) and Greg Murphy, MD (NC-03)

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Advocacy Council

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, the importance of being engaged on state issues, and the recently passed legislation to reform prior authorization. 

Guest: The Honorable Kay Kirkpatrick, MD, FAAOS, Senator, Georgia State Senate

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 musculoskeletal community.

Resources

Pre-election podcast episode: aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-35/

AAOS Advocacy Action Center: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center

Episode on 2023 payment policy changes: aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-34/

Guests: Catherine Hayes, AAOS Senior Legislative Director; Brittany Starr, AAOS Senior Political Director

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 for the future of the profession.Joint Policy Card for 117th Congress: https://indd.adobe.com/view/b5a3dd6d-255c-43d0-8fa8-0da782d4b906

More about the AAOS PAC: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/pac/

Guest: Brittany Starr, AAOS Senior Political Director

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 balance between stabilizing the system in the short-term while working towards a permanent fix that addresses growing health care costs and incentivizes value-based care. 

Guest: Karl Koenig (Texas), MD, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Health Care Systems Committee

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Advocacy Council

Notes:

Issue page in the AAOS Advocacy Action Center: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/payment-policy-changes/

Episode 23 - Economic Effects of Medicare Pay Cuts (recorded Oct. 2021): https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-23/

Special Episode - Impact of Payment Policy Changes (recorded Sept. 2020): https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-9/

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 focused on ortho-partisan issues is necessary to advocating for patients’ best interests and being heard in a politically fragmented environment.

Guest: Gerald R. Williams (Pennsylvania), Jr., MD, FAAOS, Former AAOS President

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 officer. They share a dialogue around the surge in assault and violence, legislation moving through Congress to address the behavior, and practical tools to mitigate risks both at the individual physician and clinic level.

More on AAOS advocacy to protect healthcare professionals: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/safety-from-workplace-violence

More on the 2022 Orthopaedic Advocacy Week: www.aaos.org/orthopaedicadvocacyweek 

Guests: Julie Samora (Ohio), MD, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Patient Safety Committee; Alfonso Mejia (Illinois), MD, FAAOS, Secretary, BOC

Host: Douglas Lundy (Georgia), MD, MBA, FAAOS, Chair, AAOS Advocacy Council

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 Hospital to discuss the role that advocacy has in advancing the quality of musculoskeletal care through the AAOS family of registries.

More on the AAOS Registry Program: https://www.aaos.org/registries

Guest: James Huddleston III, MD, FAAOS, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford Hospital

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 interest of patients. Dr. Al's primary is on June 7.

Additional links and resources: 

AAOS Now Article about Dr. Olszewski’s Campaign: https://www.aaos.org/aaosnow/2022/mar/advocacy/advocacy01/

AAOS Press Release Endorsement of Dr. Olszewski: https://www.aaos.org/aaos-home/newsroom/press-releases/orthopaedic-pac-endorses-aaos-member-al-olszewski-md-faaos-for-congress/

AAOS OrthoPAC: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/pac/

Guest: Al Olszewski, MD, FAAOS, Candidate for U.S. Congress

Host: Douglas Lundy, MD, MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair

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 links and resources:

Podcast episode on "Repeal of Antitrust Exemption for Health Insurers": https://www.aaos.org/publications/the-bone-beat-orthopaedic-podcast-channel/the-bone-beat-advocacy-podcast/episode-15/

FAQ on consolidation: https://www.aaos.org/globalassets/advocacy/issues/faqs-on-hospital-consolidation.pdf

AAOS Advocacy Action Center: https://www.aaos.org/advocacy/advocacy-action-center/

Guests: James W. Barber, M.D., Southeastern Orthopaedics; Frederic E. Liss, M.D., Rothman Orthopaedic Institute; Ronald A. Navarro, M.D., Kaiser Permanente 

Host: Douglas Lundy, M.D., MBA, FAAOS, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair