February 1998 AAOS Report
New Health Policy Update online
A new Health Policy Update,
"The Use
and Misuse of Milliman and Robertson Guidelines," is available
on the home page at http://www.aaos.org in the
"What's
New This Week" section and fax-on-demand system, (800) 999-2939,
document #9011. Some orthopaedic surgeons have been alarmed by
the stringent length of stay targets in the guidelines and the
use by health plans of the guidelines as standards for all patients.
The update details orthopaedists' concerns; Milliman and Robertson's
intent for their guidelines; and provides some general tips to
orthopaedists on how to deal with practice guidelines adopted
by health plans, hospitals and networks.