COA Members
I am excited to share a bold vision for the year ahead. My agenda is centered around exploring strategic initiatives in Innovation, Collaboration, and Advocacy aimed at significantly enhancing patient care and improving the professional environment for our members.
I welcome your feedback and suggestions to refine and enhance our approach.
Innovation:
For Patients:
Transformative Access to Care: We will explore innovative approaches to improve access to timely orthopedic care by identifying process innovations to reduce wait times and lower barriers for patients seeking orthopedic specialists. This includes leveraging the targeted provider rate increases under Medi-Cal to ensure broader access and better reimbursement rates for orthopedic services. We will also work to clarify and streamline national treatment guidelines which often delay or restrict medically necessary care. Our goal is to create a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of every individual.
For Members:
Streamlined Practice Operations: We will investigate modern software and management systems to alleviate the administrative burdens faced by our members. We must improve practice efficiency, reduce paperwork, and allow our members to focus more on clinical care.
Collaboration:
For Patients:
Enhanced Care Coordination: Improving patient outcomes and efficiency requires stronger collaboration among the team of MSK healthcare providers, including orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and other allied health professionals. We will partner with other health and professional associations to facilitate seamless communication and coordination, reducing redundancy and ensuring timely interventions. By streamlining care processes and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, we can significantly improve the quality and continuity of care for our patients.
For Members:
Support and Centralization: We will support our membership’s existing Orthopaedic Management Services Organizations (MSO) and explore the creation of a COA-wide MSO to centralize and streamline administrative services, reducing operating costs and administrative burdens for our members. Additionally, we should explore developing a clinically integrated network that enhances our collective bargaining power with payers while maintaining our members’ independence.
Advocacy:
For Patients:
Equity in Healthcare Access: Advocacy is essential to ensuring that all patients have access to timely and specialized orthopedic care, crucial for preventing complications and improving health outcomes. I’d like the COA to be committed to advocating for policies that support equity in healthcare access, reduce barriers to specialty care, and promote timely diagnosis and treatment. This includes lobbying for reforms that streamline the referral process, reduce wait times, and enhance patient access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options without unnecessary delays.
For Members:
Improved Reimbursement and Regulatory Reforms: We will focus on advocating for better fee schedules for Medi-Cal, Workers’ Compensation, and other California health programs, ensuring fair compensation for the specialized care we provide. The recent Medi-Cal increases made possible by the MCO Tax and matching federal funds, it is a start towards more realistic access for Medi-Cal patients with better reimbursement for orthopedic surgeons. We will also promote contracts with self-insured employers to ensure our members can provide care with less administrative hassles and receive appropriate compensation. Additionally, we should push for regulatory changes that simplify insurance processes, reduce the frequency of denied claims, and minimize the administrative burdens associated with prior authorizations and compliance requirements.
These initiatives reflect my commitment to driving significant advancements in both patient care and the professional landscape for orthopaedic surgeons in California. By focusing on innovation, enhancing collaboration, and strengthening our advocacy efforts, we can achieve our goals of providing high-quality, equitable, and efficient care for our patients while supporting our members in their professional endeavors. I realize this is a broad agenda, but if we can at least get the ball rolling on these important topics, I truly believe we’ll both reaffirm our commitment to our mission and vision statements as well as set these very processes in motion. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and I hope to make my presidential year another big step in our journey.
Thank you for your dedication and support. I am eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on these proposed initiatives. Your insights will be invaluable in shaping our strategies and ensuring we meet the needs of both our patients and members effectively. Together, we will make meaningful strides in advancing our mission and improving the lives of those we serve.
Yours truly,
Ray Raven MD, MHCI, MBA
