Health Care Reform

The US health care system has been fragmented for more than 40 years; this model created a need for modification. Sociopoliticomedical system-related factors led to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and a restructuring of health care provision/delivery. The ACA increases access to high-quality “affordable care” under cost-effective measures. This article provides a comprehensive review of health reform and the motivating factors that drive policy to empower arthroplasty providers to effectively advocate for the field of orthopedics as a whole, and the patients served.

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Understanding health reform and policy will empower arthroplasty providers to effectively advocate for the field of orthopedics as a whole, and the patients we serve.

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Understanding health reform and policy will empower arthroplasty providers to effectively advocate for the field of orthopedics as a whole, and the patients we serve.

The development of diagnosis-related groups, changes in resource distribution, and the sustainable growth rate are 3 defining policies that were designed to control costs. Health care policy has changed drastically, and with the 50-year anniversary of the passage of Medicare in 2015, the relationship between the current health care system and impacts to various subspecialties has become increasingly important. These policies had an unpredictable impact on those caring for the orthopedic trauma population. Legislation continues to be directed by the study of patient outcomes, providing an opportunity for orthopedists to contribute to future changes in policy. Although the ACA has currently withstood 2 major battles, it has yet to be proven if the system itself will stand the test of time. For the orthopedic surgeon, this uncertainty should motivate providers to become more active in helping to shape policy that will benefit their patients, optimize care delivery, and maximize the opportunity to address disparities that exist in patient outcomes and access to care.

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