TOA’s 2019 Annual Conference
Click here for the latest info for our upcoming 2019 Annual Conference. Sponsorship details are coming soon!
TOA News Feed
Medicare Extends Site Neutral Policy in 2019 HOPD/ASC Payment Proposal; ASC Victories
A discussion related to approving hip and knee replacement surgeries for Medicare payment in ASCs dominated last year’s hospital outpatient department (HOPD) and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) payment proposal for Medicare. (Ultimately, CMS simply removed TKA from the inpatient only list.) The 2019 proposal, which was released on July 25, 2018, only addressed the anesthesia…
Practice Perspective – Data-Based Management’s Effect on Staffing and Duty Allocation
By Joseph Mathews How much is just enough? This is an ongoing conversation for practices regarding staffing as we face lower profit margins, increasing overhead and patient populations that demand both quick processes and high levels of customer service. However, this conversation and the decisions that follow can become less tedious and stressful if practices…
Medicare’s 2019 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program Proposal Released
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2019 payment rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program for MACRA on July 13, 2018. Comments are due on September 10, 2018. TOA’s members are invited to review TOA’s analysis of the proposal, which can be found in…
Q&A with Karl Koenig, MD
Integrated Practice Units and the Perioperative Surgical Home: What’s on the Horizon? Q&A with Karl Koenig, MD Karl Koenig, MD, MS is the Medical Director for the Musculoskeletal Institute at UT Health Austin. He specializes in treatment of hip and knee arthritis including both primary and revision surgery. Dr. Koenig has a special interest in…
Pre-Authorization for Compound Drugs in Workers’ Comp Program Begins on July 1, 2018
The Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers’ Compensation adopted a rule on March 29, 2018 that will require compounded drugs to be preauthorized beginning on July 1, 2018. Click here to learn more.
Practice Perspective: Data-Based Management of the Patient Experience; Starting with Scheduling
By Joseph Mathews While the patient experience should begin with a seemingly uncomplicated call to schedule an appointment, the patient journey is often marred by hard-to-understand greetings and instructions, abandoned calls, being sent to voicemail, or sitting on hold for long wait times while listening to a barrage of promotions about the organization. These are…
Texas Medical Board Approves Protections for Team Physicians
The 2019 Texas Legislature approved HB 2299, which directs the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to recognize the out-of-state licenses for team physicians when they staff their teams for competitions in Texas. State Representative Bobby Guerra and State Senator Charles Schwertner, MD worked with TOA to pass this legislation. Click here to read the provision in…
TOA in Washington DC
Every year, over a dozen Texas orthopaedics go to Washington, DC to participate in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ National Orthopaedic Leadership Council (NOLC) to educate the Texas Congressional Delegation about musculoskeletal issues that affect Texans. On June 7, 2018, Texas orthopaedic surgeons will discuss two Medicare issues that are specific to Texas –…
TOA & AAOS Support Texas Medical Board’s Team Physician Proposal
Andrew Palafox, MD of the Texas Orthopaedic Association and David Halsey, MD of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons submitted a letter to the Texas Medical Board in support of its proposed rule that would recognize the out-of-state licenses of team physicians when they travel with their teams to Texas for athletic competitions. The move…