Payment prospects for orthopedic surgeons look skeletal in 2002

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers assess how Medicare fee-schedule changes may affect orthopedic practice revenue, service mix, and patient access concerns.

Article Sections

1. Medicare payment outlook for orthopedic surgeons

   Introduces the overall reimbursement environment for orthopedic surgery in 2002 and summarizes the payment trend discussed in the article.

2. High-volume office services and payment changes

   Reviews frequently billed office-based orthopedic services and the direction of payment changes across those services.

3. Hospital/facility services and payment changes

   Summarizes how commonly billed facility-based orthopedic services were affected in the same fee year.

4. AAOS response to cuts

   Presents the specialty society’s perspective on the broader implications of Medicare payment reductions for practice and patient access.

5. Snapshot of how orthopedic surgeons fare in 2002 with their top 25 codes

   Provides a tabular comparison of commonly billed orthopedic services across office and facility settings for 2002 and 2001.