Month: January 2021

As was noted in this communication from November 2020, AOPA successfully convinced the CDC to add orthotists and prosthetists to its list of frontline workers who should be first in line for the vaccine, however, the CDC guidelines only serve as suggestions for the states – each state develops their own guidelines. Some states’ guidelines are very specific, while others are more ambiguous with respect to where O&P clinicians fall on the list of healthcare providers eligible for vaccines.

To be more specific, O&P clinicians, as essential, frontline healthcare workers, are eligible to receive vaccines during phase 1 in every state, though the group (1a, 1b, 1c, etc.) may differ from state to state, or even by county.

The Prosthetic and Rehabilitative Items and Services Final Rule was published in the Federal Register and goes into effect on January 27, 2021. The proposed rule was published in October 2017. AOPA provided comments at that time.

The rule establishes and clarifies eligibility for prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services available to Veterans.