The Threat to In-office Ancillary Services Fred Redfern

The Threat to In-office Ancillary Services Fred Redfern, MD AAOS Board of Councilors Chair David Teuscher, MD AAOS Second Vice-President Elect Stephen Mc. Collam, MD Chair, AAOS BOC State Legislative and Regulatory Issues Committee 1

What to Expect The purpose of this webinar is to provide you with background information, compelling arguments, and grassroots tools to effectively advocate to protect in-office ancillary services 2

The Stark Law n Physicians cannot refer patients to a facility for treatments where the referring physician or his/her family has a financial interest. u 1989 – Social Security Act t Limited self-referral for clinical labs u 1992 – Stark 1 u 1993 – Stark 2 u 2006 – Stark 3 3

The Stark Law In-Office Ancillary Services Exception IOASE u Exempts in-office ancillary services: t Imaging t Occupational/Physical therapy t Laboratory services t Orthotics/prosthetics t Others 4

Imminent Threat n Congressional Budget Office to “Score” u Estimates cost or savings generated by eliminating the exception u Could be used to close budget gaps 5

GAO Report (September 2012) Argued that higher use of advanced imaging by providers who self-refer cost Medicare $109 M per year ($1. 1 B over 10 yrs) Flawed methodology and assumptions n Excludes hospital referrals n Appropriate referral rates not studied n 6

Recent Congressional Action We had a close call on Jan 1 fiscal deal, which expires March 1 n There was an attempt to include language in the fiscal cliff bill closing the Stark exception n AAOS advocacy efforts averted this provision of the bill n 7

Current Threat As we near the next “fiscal cliff” on March 1, the IOASE may once again be considered as an offset for federal spending n If comprehensive entitlement reform is considered this spring, elimination of the IOASE may be considered as an offset for SGR fix. n 8

AAOS Action AAOS PAC relationships utilized n COA involvement/fly-ins n AAOS OGR lobbying efforts n Key Congressional committees targeted n Grassroots call to action n Combined efforts with affiliated organizations and coalitions n 9

AAOS Action n Research u Economic study of the effect of physician ownership on utilization of imaging services Significant AAOS investment t Phase 1 completed; phase 2 underway t Anticipated completion spring 2013 t Funded by BOC SLRI Committee t 10

Coalition Partners: CPCI (Imaging Only) n Coalition for Patient Centered Imaging u American Academy of Neurology u American College of Cardiology u American Congress of OB/GYN u American Urological Association u 12 others 11

Friends of IOASE Cleveland Clinic Health System u Mayo Clinic Health System u Geisinger Health System, Intermountain Healthcare u Henry Ford Medical System u Others u 12

Opposition: AIM Coalition n Alliance for Integrity in Medicine u American College of Radiology u American Clinical Laboratory Association u ASTRO (Radiation Oncologists) u American Society for Clinical Pathology 13

The Orthopaedic case for IOAS If it is meant to be, it is up to WE. n You need to enlist your patients. n We’ll educate you, and you, your patients. n What will you do? n 14

The Orthopaedic case for IOAS Prevalence and vulnerable populations n Compliance & convenience n Quality & coordinated care n Cost & outcomes n HOPD costs more for same services n 15

Argument for IOAS: Prevalence One in 4 Americans. n Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. n Reduce patient suffering and overall costs. n Costs of musculoskeletal disability. n 16

Argument for IOAS: Discrimination Only affects those covered by CMS policy. n Discriminates against Most Vulnerable: u Elderly & Disabled (Medicare) u Poor (Medicaid) u Military families (Tricare) n All others will have access to IOAS n 17

Arguments for IOAS: Compliance & convenience n Improves adherence to treatment plans and outcomes by; u eliminating scheduling delays. u eradicating duplicate paperwork. u minimizing mobility and travel issues. u reducing costs of non-compliance. 18

Arguments for IOAS: Better Care Coordination Physician availability and oversight to ensure improved quality of care in real time. n Improve the imaging/treatment of patients without delay or costs to the patient. n 19

Arguments for IOAS: Rural Access Challenges Transportation time and costs. n Scheduling off-site, especially hospitals, typically means another return trip. n Follow-up visits delayed by off-site referral. n Patients often alternatively access the ER. n 20

Arguments for IOAS: Costs of HOPD Hospitals bill more for the same services, 40% more according to MEDPAC. n Congress should avoid arbitrarily restricting access solely on physician investment. n Consideration for the quality, convenience, savings, value, and outcomes our patients receive should be paramount. n 21

Arguments for IOAS: Opposing Views Overutilization based upon ownership u “Inappropriate” should be focus u Scientific literature lacks consensus n Same day services are less than ½ IOAS u Rehab scheduled over weeks but initial or final evaluation can be same day u Patient preference drives MRI schedule n 22

Arguments for IOAS: Saves Time and Money Saves time & money on transportation and time away from work or school n Saves money & time patients spend on transactional costs and paperwork n Saves time & money by providing timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment n Saves money outpatient vs. HOPD n 23

Arguments for IOAS: Tell your Personal Story n n n n It’s not about you or your ownership. Remember the MVP. Common, painful, disabling injury. Convenience and costs for patient and family. Time, travel and hassle factors. Quality, safety and outcomes. Bottom line: access to care! 24

Grassroots Our Voice is Critical Physicians are ideal advocates u Credible u Experienced n Legislators need to hear from us u Limited experience and knowledge u Unaware of the challenges of providing care to patients n If we don’t tell our story, who will? n 25

What WE Can Do Meet with your Congressman u In-district office u Washington, D. C. n Send a letter via the AAOS website n Call the Congressional office in DC n Recruit patients to advocate n Recruit patients to recruit: family, friends, . . n Recruit other doctors to do above n 26

Face to Face Meeting In the local district office (Feb. 25 -28 OOS) n Washington, D. C. n Bring an articulate patient who has benefitted from IOAS n During the Meeting -n u u Be social: Greet, Congratulate, Thank Succinct message -- Webinar/OGR materials Compelling patient example Repeat the message/Leave behind 27

Other Community Opportunities Attend a fundraiser/Make a contribution u In-district events t Town Hall meetings t Coffees t Check legislator’s website u Invite a Member of Congress to visit your office u 28

Email/Call Send a letter via the AAOS website: u Government Relations/Hot Topics u IOAS header u Add a personal message n Call your Congressman u Ask for Healthcare Liaison/Staffer u Ask for Budget/Finance staffer u Have talking points organized n 29

AAOS Home Page 30

31

32

Scroll down inside this box and type in personal message. 33

Patient Involvement n Post this sign in Waiting Room/Exam Room Ask your doctor about protecting your ability to receive convenient therapy and diagnostic services in this office. Ask about writing to Congress today! 34

Place This in the Waiting Room Logistics Tip: Mass produce flyer at Kinkos/Send via email for order 35

Patient Involvement Engage patients for one minute at the end of the office visit -- Review Patient Talking Point Sheet u Message must come directly from you – face to face, not staff u Explain about the need to protect their ability to get efficient care u Have letter ready for them to personalize and sign u Fax or scan/e-mail to the Congressional office t Direct it to the specific staff person u AAOS OGR will send letter templates u 36

Patient to Patient Grassroots If Patients agree to advocate n Ask them to recruit other voting age u Family members u Friends u Co-workers u Members of their Soc. Org, i. e bowling, . . n Have extra Patient Flyers ready n 37

Patient Recruitment n Social Media u Put link on Practice Website u Practice Facebook page u Send a Tweet u Let patients know their convenient access to therapy and diagnostic testing is threatened u Give talking points and post sample patient letter. u Copy link to : Write to Congress u On AAOS Government Relations Page. 38

Doctor to Doctor Grassroots Call or email all your partners n Forward talking points and files sent by OGR n Send link to watch re-play of Webinar n Contact other groups in your area that own Ancillary Services. n Post Information Sheets in doctors lounges n Ask Local County/State Medical Societies for help. n 39

Doctor to Doctor Info Sheet 40

Key Congressional Targets u u u u u Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) Minority Leader Mc. Connell (R-KY) Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) Senate Finance Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) All other Senate Finance Committee Members House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) All members of House Energy and Commerce All members of House Ways and Means 41

Thank You Remember, if you don’t have a seat at the table, you are on the menu. 42

Staff Contact Julie Williams jwilliams@aaos. org Catherine Boudreaux boudreaux@aaos. org 43

Presenter’s Contact Fred Redfern, MD Redfern. fred@gmail. com David Teuscher, MD sportdoctor@gt. rr. com Steve Mc. Collam, MD Steve@pocatlanta. com 44

Questions? 45