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 work relative value units for hip and knee arthroplasty by an additional 5.4%, further compounding the mounting tension on musculoskeletal care.

Host: Chad A. Krueger, MD, AAHKS Health Policy Fellow

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 community. Learn more at aaos.org/indistrictevent and by following #OrthoAdvocacyinAction on social media.

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Madeline Kroll, AAOS Director of Government Relations

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 America’s healthcare system should be permanently lifted—not just during the COVID-19 pandemic—for patients who deserve the right to receive care at the hospital of their choice. (Recorded on 7/21/2020)

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Catherine Hayes, AAOS Senior Director of Government Relations

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 community-based programs to ultimately help narrow the health equity gap.

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Shreyasi Deb, PhD, MBA, AAOS Senior Director of Health Policy

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 candidates for federal office including three AAOS fellows running in 2020.

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Meredith Allison, AAOS Director of Corporate Political Outreach

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 COVID-19's potential long-term effects on various value-based programs in what she is calling the greatest transformation of medicine that we’ve seen in the last century.

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, AAOS Advocacy Communications Director and Shreyasi Deb, PhD, MBA, AAOS Senior Director of Health Policy

Based in Washington, D.C., the AAOS Office of Government Relations promotes and advocates the viewpoint of the orthopaedic community before federal and state legislative, regulatory, and executive agencies. Guided by the Council on Advocacy, it identifies, analyzes, and directs all health policy initiatives to advance the organization's Unified Advocacy Agenda.

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, Advocacy Communications Director, AAOS and Graham Newson, Vice President of Government Relations, AAOS

In this add-on episode, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02), provides insight on the congressional response to COVID-19. We cover the three stimulus bills that have passed so far and look towards what’s coming in the fourth package and the future of health care post-pandemic. (Recorded on 4/17/20)

Hosts: Kristen Coultas, Advocacy Communications Director, AAOS and Catherine Hayes, Senior Director of Government Relations, AAOS

AAOS President Kristy L. Weber, MD, FAAOS, sits down after a busy day on Capitol Hill to talk about Advocacy as a strategic plan enabler. She talks about how these efforts to shape health care policy also help to achieve AAOS' three goals and that Advocacy will be a priority of the association for years to come.

Host: Kristen Coultas, Advocacy Communications Director, AAOS

Brought to you by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "The Bone Beat" covers health policy issues affecting musculoskeletal health. Through conversation with the experts, each episode features insights on the changing landscape of orthopaedic surgery and supporting advocacy efforts to advance quality and access to care.