December 2014 Newsletter

Spring Program Committee Getting to Work


The Spring Program Committee is starting to put together the meeting agenda for the Spring Conference taking place May 15-17, 2015 at Camden on the Lake in Lake Ozark, MO.   We want to hear from you on those topics and speakers you would like to see included in the program.  We do plan to have a Clinical Manager track during the meeting as well.  So ideas on content for Administrators and Clinical Managers are encouraged.   

 

Email your ideas to  [email protected]

 

Midwest AAOE Assisting in Economic Impact Study in Missouri



The Midwest AAOE recently distributed an email to our members in Missouri requesting they participate in an economic impact study developed by the Missouri State Orthopaedic Association.  The MSOA should be commended for taking the lead in quantifying the contributions that orthopaedic practices have to local economies and communities.  If any of our practices in Missouri did not receive the email from our office, please let us know and we will resend that information to you.

 

Medical Liability Reform to put Deficit in Order

Provided by the Health Coalition on Liability and Access

The Health Coalition on Liability and Access and ProtectPatientsNow.org is reporting on a document released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that details significant savings if meaningful medical liability reforms are enacted.

As part of a report titled, "Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2015 to 2024" the CBO estimated that medical liability reforms, including reasonable limits on non-economic damages, implementation of a fair-share rule, a reduction in the statute of limitations, and limits on excessive attorney fees would result in $70 billion in deficit reductions over the next 10 years.

Click here to read the full report issued by the CBO Click Here

 

Popularity of ASCs is likely to increase quality, safety scrutiny.


An article in the October issue of HealthLeaders magazine looks at recent growth in the number of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). A report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) finds that the number of Medicare-certified ASCs increased by 19 percent, to 5,364, between 2006 and 2013, and a separate MedPAC report found that approximately 3.4 million fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries had a procedure done in an ASC during 2011. A spokesperson for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association states that procedures for Medicare beneficiaries are performed at payment rates that are about 55 percent of the level reimbursed by Medicare to hospital outpatient departments. Some observers say that the increased popularity of ASCs is likely to result in an increased level of scrutiny regarding quality and safety. However, a spokesperson from the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program at The Joint Commission observes that the number of adverse events reported by ASCs is "significantly below the rates reported for inpatients in the hospital setting."  Read more....

 

 

Save The Date!

2015 Midwest AAOE Spring Meeting

May 15 & 16, 2015

Camden on the Lake, Lake Ozark, MO


Board of Directors

Current President: Kelly White
President Elect: Ronald Faulbaum 
Current Secretary/Treasurer: Mary Wine
Arkansas State Rep: Sheila Tally
Kansas State Rep: Jennifer Ale-Ebrahim, BSBA, BSSTL
Missouri State Rep: Jan Vest
Oklahoma State Rep: Susan Dellager
Past Presidents

Sue Meyers (2013)
Jim Kidd (2012)
Debra Seyfried, MBA, CMPE, CPC (2011)
Jennifer Ale-Ebrahim, BSBA, BSSTL (2010)
Keith Campbell (2009)
Barbara Sack (2008)
Peggy Robinson (2007)
Larry Polley (2004-2006)


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