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    VA Streamlines Prosthetic Procurement Process, Improving Access to Care for Veterans

    Friday, Jun 12, 2026

    AOPA & COPL Announce 2019 Request for Proposals

    The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association is proud to announce a Request for Pilot Grant Proposals in 10 potential areas of Orthotic and Prosthetic (O&P) research including an open topic. For 2019-2020, the association is seeking proposals at two funding levels for one-time grants; $15,000 and up to two exceptional proposals for $30,000 for one year. The leadership of AOPA, working in conjunction with the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice (COPL) and its Board of Directors comprised of representatives from eight leading O&P organizations recognizes that there is a modest amount of original evidence-based or outcomes research in orthotics and prosthetics.

    AOPA and the Center will give preference to grants that address evidence-based clinical application in orthotics and prosthetics. Please post this RFP and share it with your colleagues.

    View the complete RFP topics and guidelines.

    Apply now.

    The deadline for proposals under the Request for Pilot Grant Proposals is May 31, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Ashlie White at awhite@AOPAnet.org or 571/431-0812.

    FAQs
    Q: Do you have to live in the US to be eligible?
    A: No, the grant is open to researchers from any country.

    Q: Does the grant include funding for the salary of the Principle Investigator?
    A: For the Pilot Grants (up to $15-30,000), the budget does not allow for salary for the PI. For the Orthotics 2020 grants, the budget can include salary.

    AOPA Teams with COPA for the 2019 AOPA National Assembly

    WASHINGTON, DC – The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (COPA), to hold a combined annual meeting in 2019.

    AOPA is set to hold its 102nd Annual National Assembly at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 on September 25-28, 2019.

    The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (COPA) have agreed that it is in the keen interest of exhibitors and the general membership of both organizations to hold one joint O&P meeting during the calendar year 2019. “COPA is an esteemed organization and it seemed like a great opportunity to combine our educational programs and resources to celebrate the O&P industry together in California this fall,” said Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, and AOPA’s executive director.

    “The California O&P Association (COPA) leadership looks forward to welcoming the entire O&P profession to San Diego. Combining COPA and the AOPA meetings is a great opportunity to present the profession with a fresh innovative meeting packed with new ideas, methods and techniques,” said Matthew Garibaldi, MS, CPO, and president of COPA.

    Questions? Please contact Yelena Mazur, AOPA’s communications specialist at 571/431-0835 or ymazur@AOPAnet.org.

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    Abstract Submission Deadline Approaching: March 25, 2019

    AOPA and the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association calls on you to share your knowledge and expertise through a unique and valuable speaking opportunity.  You are invited to submit an education session proposal for presentation at the 2019 National Assembly, September 25-28, 2019 in San Diego, California.

    Your submissions will set the stage for a broad curriculum of high-value clinical and scientific offerings at the National Assembly. All free paper abstracts must be submitted electronically. Abstracts submitted by e-mail or fax will not be considered. All abstracts will be considered for both podium and poster presentations. The review committee will grade each submission via a blind review process, based on the criteria below and reach a decision regarding acceptance of abstracts.

    • Relevance, level of interest in topics
    • Quality of Scientific Content
    • Quality of Clinical Content
    • Quality of Technical Content

    We are accepting submissions for the following categories:

    Clinical Free Papers – Present an Orthotic, Prosthetic or Pedorthic Free Paper. The top scoring papers will compete for the prestigious Thranhardt Award.

    Technician Program – Submit your Technical education paper for submission the Technical Track.

    Symposia – If you are interested in organizing a Symposium.

    Business Education Program – The top papers will be considered for the prestigious Sam E. Hamontree, CP (E) Business Education Award.

     

    All papers are due March 25, 2019.

    Read the March O&P Almanac now.

    Find out which six trends are making the biggest impact on O&P upper-limb patient care; read tips for treating patients experiencing complications from diabetes, cancer, and cardiac disease; learn why H.R. 4772 was pulled before it came to a vote during the 115th Congress; meet a researcher who’s leading a cranial remolding orthosis study as part of Orthotics 2020; earn 2 CE credits by reading and taking the quiz on this month’s Reimbursement Page article; see the latest data on the rising number of uninsured in the United States; and much more.

    CMS Announces Product Categories and Timeline for Competitive Bidding 2021

    On March 7, 2019, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the final product categories and timeline for the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program that will begin for dates of service on or after January 1, 2021.

    As expected, certain off-the-shelf (OTS) knee orthoses and spinal orthoses will be included in the 2021 competitive bidding program.  A total of 16 OTS spinal orthosis codes and 7 OTS knee orthosis codes will be included in the program.  The specific codes that have been identified by CMS are listed below.

    OTS Spinal Orthosis Codes Included in Competitive Bidding 2021

    L0450, L0455, L0457, L0467, L0469, L0621, L0623, L0625, L0628, L0641, L0642, L0643, L0648, L0649, L0650, L0651

    OTS Knee Orthosis Codes Included in Competitive Bidding 2021

    L1812, L1830, L1833, L1836, L1850, L1851, L1852

    One knee orthosis code (L1848) has been removed from the list as it represents an orthosis that policy states is never medically necessary.

    While DMEPOS competitive bidding is in a temporary “gap” period until 2021, the process of soliciting, analyzing, and awarding bids, as well as implementing the program takes approximately 18 months.  The CMS announcement on March 7, 2019 sets the following timeline to assure that Competitive Bidding 2021 will begin on time.

    March 7, 2019

    • CMS begins pre-bidding supplier awareness program

    May 2019

    • CMS announces dates for registration and bidding
    • CMS begins bidder education program

    June 2019

    • Bidder registration period begins
    • Bid windows open

    AOPA will be developing several resources to educate its members about the competitive bidding program.  In the meantime, general information regarding Competitive Bidding 2021 may be found by clicking here or here.

    Questions regarding this issue may be directed to Joe McTernan at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org or Devon Bernard at dbernard@AOPAnet.org.

    Revision to the LSO/TLSO Policy Article

    The Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MAC) Noridian and
    CGS recently announced a revision to the LSO/TLSO Policy Article with an effective date of January
    1, 2019. The revision provides guidance on the proper coding of prefabricated items which don’t
    require substantial modification or minimal self-adjustment.

    The revision indicates that when a HCPCS code descriptor does not define a brace as either offthe-shelf (OTS) or custom fitted, it only states prefabricated, the code should be used whether the
    device requires custom fitting or is delivered OTS. Here is the full passage from the Policy Article:
    “In most cases for prefabricated orthoses, the correct coding of the orthosis is dictated by
    actions that take place at the time of fitting to the beneficiary, either custom-fit (requiring
    expertise) or off-the-shelf (OTS) (requiring minimal beneficiary self-adjustment). However,
    for certain types of orthoses, the HCPCS code narrative that best describes the product does
    not make a distinction between prefabricated orthoses that are provided as custom-fit or
    OTS. These code narratives are correct and must be used for Medicare billing, without
    regard to how the product is provided to the beneficiary at the final delivery.”

    Previous interpretations by CMS indicated that if the LSO/TLSO HCPCS code only stated
    prefabricated, it was to be considered custom fitted by default. This interpretation was later
    reversed and is now clearly stated in the Policy Article.

    Questions? Contact Joe McTernan at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org or Devon Bernard at
    dbernard@AOPAnet.org.

    HCPCS Code Changes for 2019

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for 2019, and there were a few minor changes. Below is a complete breakdown of the code changes which will be effective for claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2019.

    New Codes

    Code Descriptor
    A5514 For diabetics only, multiple density inserts, made by direct carving with cam technology from a rectified cad model created from a digitized scan of the patient, total contact with patient’s foot, including arch, base layer minimum of 3/16 inch material of shore a 35 durometer (or higher), includes arch filler and other shaping material, custom fabricated, each
    L8701 Powered upper extremity range of motion assist device, elbow, wrist, hand with single or double upright(s), includes microprocessor, sensors, all components and accessories, custom fabricated
    L8702 Powered upper extremity range of motion assist device, elbow, wrist, hand, finger, single or double upright(s), includes microprocessor, sensors, all components and accessories, custom fabricated

     

    Changes in Code Descriptors

    Code New Descriptor Old Descriptor
    A5513

     

    		 For diabetics only, multiple density inserts, custom molded from model of patient’s foot, total contact with patient’s foot, including arch, base layer minimum of 3/16 inch material of shore a 35 durometer (or higher), includes arch filler and other shaping material, custom fabricated, each For diabetics only, multiple density inserts, custom molded from model of patient’s foot, total contact with patient’s foot, including arch, base layer minimum of 3/16 inch material of shore a 35 durometer or higher, includes arch filler and other shaping material, custom fabricated, each

     

    The change in the descriptor is a minor grammatical change, and not an actual change in the code verbiage. The new descriptor places parenthesis around the phrase or higher. The change makes the descriptor in line with the verbiage of the A5512 and the new A5514.

    Deleted Codes

    Code Descriptor
    K0903 For diabetics only, multiple density inserts, made by direct carving with cam technology from a rectified cad model created from a digitized scan of the patient, total contact with patient’s foot, including arch, base layer minimum of 3/16 inch material of shore a 35 durometer (or higher), includes arch filler and other shaping material, custom fabricated, each

     

    The temporary K code, K0903, which has been active since April 1, 2018 has been deleted and will be cross walked to the newly created A5514 code.

    AOPA’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee will review the list of changes and provide appropriate comments to CMS.