AAOS Comments on Proposed Medicare Payment Policy Changes for 2021

Washington, D.C. (October 5, 2020)—The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) issued formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the agency’s proposed payment policy changes for Calendar Year 2021. In both letters, AAOS thanked CMS for its ongoing efforts to help physicians and patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency and highlighted proposals that would have a significant impact on musculoskeletal care.

Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule
The AAOS focused its attention on the proposal to eliminate the Inpatient Only (IPO) List starting with all 266 musculoskeletal procedures. It urged the agency to consider the associated risks to Medicare beneficiaries before finalizing this “drastic proposal,” noting safety concerns, increased out-of-pocket costs and potential access to care issues for patients.

“The AAOS believes that determining the appropriate setting of care should be done through the lens of patient safety and peer-reviewed evidence, and that physicians are best qualified for leading this individualized decision-making process with their patients,” explained AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS.

For additional information please see the full AAOS statement:

https://www.aaos.org/aaos-home/newsroom/press-releases/aaos-comments-on-proposed-medicare--payment-policy-changes-for-2021/