Oregon Teachers Forced to Travel for TJR

The Oregon Educators Benefit Board recently placed a cap on the facility costs its policy covers for hip and knee replacement. Many of the 150,000 covered educators in Oregon who are in need of hip or knee replacement now must travel several hours to facilities that meet the reference price. An Oregon reporter from The Bulletin spoke with AAHKS President Jay R. Lieberman, MD for his opinion on how travel might affect the patient. “I think the state really needs to closely assess the impact that this type of program will have on patient outcomes, re-admissions and patient satisfaction,” Dr. Lieberman said. Full story.