Comment on CMS-2026-1256-0002
American Association of Orthopaedic SurgeonsOpposeAdvocacy
Summary: The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) opposes the mandatory nature of the proposed TEAM and CJR-X alternative payment models, advocating instead for voluntary participation and greater physician oversight. They express significant concerns regarding the "ratchet effect" of target pricing, the potential for financial penalties to disproportionately impact safety-net hospitals, and the lack of gainsharing for surgeons who drive cost savings.
Dear Administrator Oz:
On behalf of the more than 39,000 orthopaedic surgeons and residents represented by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the orthopaedic specialty and state societies that agreed to sign on, I am writing to share our comments on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule (CMS-1849-P).
Please see the attached letter for our complete comments.