Year: 2021

The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is pleased to announce our partnership with the Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering (RATE). Published by SAGE Publishing, RATE is a peer-reviewed, open access, interdisciplinary journal, focusing on the engineering aspects and practical applications of rehabilitation and assistive technologies. It is a highly respected publication that is indexed in PubMed Central and Web of Science*.

“We are excited about this partnership and what it means for both AOPA and the profession,” said AOPA Executive Director Eve Lee, MBA, CAE. “AOPA is committed to furthering orthotic and prosthetic research and implementing quality improvement initiatives. This partnership will bolster the dissemination of evidence-based science, broaden the reach of O&P research to include a more diverse cohort of rehabilitation professionals, and most importantly, improve patient outcomes.”

The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA), in conjunction with the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice (COPL) and its Board of Directors, is pleased to announce its 2021 Request for Pilot Grant Proposals. Proposals are being accepted in 10 areas of orthotic and prosthetic research including an open topic.

For 2021-2022, 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. Preference will be given to grants that address evidence-based clinical application in orthotics and prosthetics. View the RFP topics and guidelines.

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.