Year: 2021

On December 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2022 Medicare Fee Schedule update for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS).  The 2022 Medicare DMEPOS Fee Schedule will increase by a net total of 5.1% for claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2022. The 5.1% increase is the result of a CPI-U increase of 5.4% from June 2020 to June 2021 and a -0.3% productivity adjustment. AOPA previously reported an assumed net increase of 5.1% but it has now been officially confirmed by CMS.

The Clinical Outcome Measures Electronic Toolkit (COMET) provides a database of validated outcome measures geared towards prosthesis and orthosis users and practitioners. It was developed by Orthocare Innovations, LLC in coordination with AOPA and with the support of a Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice (COPL) Pilot Grant.

AOPA is aware of and is closely following recent state and federal court rulings that will impact the ability of the Federal Government to implement COVID-19 vaccine requirements for large businesses (OSHA), healthcare workers (CMS), and federal contractors. All three Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) have been challenged in both state and federal court. To date, federal courts have issued temporary injunctions preventing full implementation of both the CMS and OSHA vaccine requirements and several state courts have issued injunctions preventing implementation of the federal contractor requirement.

On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released separate, but complementary regulations that will establish COVID-19 vaccination requirements.  The Interim Final Rules and the related Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) that they create will be officially published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 5, 2021, and will be effective immediately with vaccination required by January 4,^, 2022.

The CMS rule applies to certain Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers who are regulated under specific health and safety standards known as Conditions of Participation.

On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would be issuing independent Interim Final Rules that would require COVID-19 vaccination for employers with more than 100 employees (OSHA) and healthcare providers who are enrolled in Medicare and/or Medicaid (CMS).  The White House indicated that these regulations were being drafted and were expected to be released in mid to late October 2021.

The Board of Directors of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice (COPL) has selected its 2021 COPL Pilot Grant recipients.

As part of President Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic” Plan, the White House announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for all Medicare and Medicaid providers.

Because of this and because vaccination is one way that healthcare professionals can fulfill their commitment to ensure the health and well-being of others, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) highly encourages all O&P professionals receive the COVID-19 vaccine.