AOPA members should be aware of proposed education standards by the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) that could potentially encroach on the O&P profession.
AOPA encourages members to make public comments about a proposed set of Assistive Technology education standards that are currently being advanced by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North American (RESNA). The concern is that the new standards could be interpreted to qualify those certified as an ATP to evaluate, fit and/or deliver orthotic or prosthetic devices. Read the proposed standards.
AOPA has prepared a statement for members to use, and below are directions on how to submit comments by July 1, 2016.
Survey for Assistive Technology
- Click on Survey link above / Click Next
- Select Appendix B-Curriculum / Click Next
- Type 493 in the box (that is the line number)
- Paste in comment box:
The accreditation and scope of practice issues relating to orthotics and prosthetics are well-established under (a) Section 427 of the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act, enacted in 2000, (b) the two accreditation bodies referenced in that federal legislation, and (c) the deemed accrediting organizations identified and recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Therefore, any action by RESNA relating to defining the qualifications needed for orthotics and prosthetics would be at best redundant, and at worst, potentially conflicting and disruptive, and so we request the document resulting from this process not include content relating to defining the qualifications for those providing orthotic and/or prosthetic services.
5. Click Next – This returns you to the previous page
6. Replace 493 in the box with 566 (that is the line number)
7. Paste in comment box:
The accreditation and scope of practice issues relating to orthotics and prosthetics are well-established under (a) Section 427 of the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act, enacted in 2000, (b) the two accreditation bodies referenced in that federal legislation, and (c) the deemed accrediting organizations identified and recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Therefore, any action by RESNA relating to defining the qualifications needed for orthotics and prosthetics would be at best redundant, and at worst, potentially conflicting and disruptive, and so we request the document resulting from this process not include content relating to defining the qualifications for those providing orthotic and/or prosthetic services.
8. Click Next – I have completed my comments – Click Next – Click Done
See more information in the alert issued by NCOPE, ABC and the Academy.