AOPA Working for You
AOPA
representatives attended a Medicare coding meeting in Baltimore, Md.,
April 26-27. The purpose of this meeting, hosted by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), was to allow O&P
manufacturers who had applied for new codes to present their reasons
for applying to Medicare.
AOPA representatives attended this meeting to support members who had applied for new codes. This meeting also provided an opportunity for AOPA staff to speak with SADMERC and CMS officials and to provide their expertise on the code applications.
In addition, AOPA representatives attend this meeting annually to determine any prevalent or growing trends related to O&P devices. AOPA’s attendance at this meeting further demonstrated to CMS officials that AOPA is the trusted source in the O&P industry when coding issues arise.
The majority of manufacturer presentations at this meeting were by applicants who had been turned down for a new code in the preliminary decision phase.
CMS originally considered 28 new applications for O&P devices for 2007 during the preliminary decision phase. Preliminary decisions were favorable or partially favorable on nine of the 28 applications.
Historically, the reversal rate on such negative preliminary decisions has been low. The final determinations on the code applications will be announced in October or November.
Questions about the CMS code application meeting? Contact Kathy Dodson at kdodson@AOPAnet.org or (571) 431-0810.
Questions about the coding application process? Contact Joe McTernan at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org or (571) 431-0811.
Up-to-the-minute coding and reimbursement information is provided by AOPA at www.AOPAnet.org. AOPA members also enjoy an electronic members-only newsletter, AOPA In Advance. AOPA In Advance publishes new codes and descriptors as they are released and also provides new coding and reimbursement news from Medicare. AOPA members also receive significant discounts on O&P-specific coding and reimbursement products.
AOPA representatives attended this meeting to support members who had applied for new codes. This meeting also provided an opportunity for AOPA staff to speak with SADMERC and CMS officials and to provide their expertise on the code applications.
In addition, AOPA representatives attend this meeting annually to determine any prevalent or growing trends related to O&P devices. AOPA’s attendance at this meeting further demonstrated to CMS officials that AOPA is the trusted source in the O&P industry when coding issues arise.
The majority of manufacturer presentations at this meeting were by applicants who had been turned down for a new code in the preliminary decision phase.
CMS originally considered 28 new applications for O&P devices for 2007 during the preliminary decision phase. Preliminary decisions were favorable or partially favorable on nine of the 28 applications.
Historically, the reversal rate on such negative preliminary decisions has been low. The final determinations on the code applications will be announced in October or November.
Questions about the CMS code application meeting? Contact Kathy Dodson at kdodson@AOPAnet.org or (571) 431-0810.
Questions about the coding application process? Contact Joe McTernan at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org or (571) 431-0811.
Up-to-the-minute coding and reimbursement information is provided by AOPA at www.AOPAnet.org. AOPA members also enjoy an electronic members-only newsletter, AOPA In Advance. AOPA In Advance publishes new codes and descriptors as they are released and also provides new coding and reimbursement news from Medicare. AOPA members also receive significant discounts on O&P-specific coding and reimbursement products.
