There are no live seminars scheduled, but we want to remind you that the entire educational seminar "Joint Arthritis - What's New, What Works" is available for viewing online, either in its entirety or in segments.

 Many of you have asked about the Medicare changes that I wrote to you about earlier this year.  It was expected that Medicare was going to reduce by 15% - 20% payments to the surgeons who perform hip and knee replacement surgeries. The Hip and Knee Societies of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons launched a strong lobbying effort which was aided by many letters to the administrators of Medicare from patients like you.   

Medicare has released the payments for 2014. Total Hip reimbursements will go down 5% and Total Knee reimbursements will go down 11%. Surprisingly, and probably because it is an outpatient procedure, there is an increase in Unicompartmental Knee replacement reimbursement of just over 6%.  

As I am sure you can appreciate, Medicare is trying to pay less for services that are in high demand. These decreases in reimbursements will certainly cause many surgeons to limit the number of Medicare patients into their practices or to drop Medicare as a provider. For the near future, Zehr Center for Orthopaedics will continue to see Medicare patients as we always have. We appreciate your support.

Holiday tables will be set with all kinds of food that can be beneficial to your joint health. Keeping in mind that overindulgence in any food is not wise, here are a few traditional dishes that may benefit you.

Not Such a Shrimp: They are tasty and convenient, and one of the few major dietary sources of bone-building vitamin D. Just 3 oz. provides about 30% of the recommended daily amount - more than a cup of fortified milk. Shrimp also contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, along with other nutrients essential for general health, including iron and vitamin B12.

Oh So Sweet Potatoes: We are talking about the actual vegetable here, not the gooey, yummy concoction laced with brown sugar and topped with marshmallows and pecans! These tropical root vegetables are not technically related to white baking potatoes. A rich source of vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6 and dietary fiber, sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse.

Say Cheese, Please: Hard or soft, fresh or ripened, cheese in all its variety is an excellent source of calcium for bones and protein for muscles and other joint-supporting tissues. Depending on type, cheeses (especially hard varieties such as cheddar and Colby) are also a good source of vitamin B6 and folate. The sheer abundance of cheeses makes it easy to get more in your diet. Slice hard cheeses onto crackers or spread soft cheeses such as cottage cheese or Brie onto fruits or vegetables.