On April 21, 2016, AOPA held a press conference call to discuss the impact that CMS’ proposed Lower Limb LCD is having in the private sector. Media participants heard from AOPA President Elect Michael Oros, CPO, FAAOP, Tom Fise of AOPA, and Mark Martin and Rob Rieckenberg, two amputees who have been affected by the new policies. […]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that effective April 19, 2016, the interest rate that will be applied to Medicare overpayments and underpayments will be 10.00%, representing an increase of 0.25% since the last quarterly update. Federal regulations require the Medicare interest rate to be adjusted quarterly based on information published […]

Update:  Just 10 days after the March 28th deadline for submission of comments regarding the Uniform Glossary of Medical Terms, CMS finalized an update to the glossary that included the revision to the definition of the term “orthotics and prosthetics” that were suggested by both AOPA and the O&P Alliance.  Both groups suggested that the definition no longer […]

On Wednesday, March 23, 2106, Rep. Price (R-GA) and Rep. Scott (D-GA) introduced a bipartisan bill that would delay implementation of a Medicare bundled payment program that would pay hospitals a single payment for joint replacement surgeries and any related follow up care for a period of 90 days post-surgery.  This program, known as the […]

As you may recall, last year the four Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) released a clarification on the type of information which must be included on a valid Proof of Delivery (POD).  The DME MACs stated that the inclusion of the official L-code descriptor, which had been the accepted norm for years, […]

On February 26, AOPA Executive Director Thomas Fise joined other representatives of the O&P Alliance for a meeting with CMS Deputy Administrator/Chief Medical Officer, Patrick Conway, M.D., Kate Goodrich, M.D., the Director of the Center for Clinical Standards & Quality, Susan Miller, M.D. who has responsibility for the planned Prosthetic LCD-related Interagency Committee comprised of […]

What has happened to Medicare’s Spending on Prosthetics since 2010? AOPA has analyzed the data, and the picture is clear. Medicare spent 15% less in 2014 than in 2010 on prosthetics. Medicare spending on advanced prosthetics has trended down 41%, while spending on older technologies has trended up almost 50%. Overall spending has decreased by […]

The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, in partnership with the Center for O&P Learning & Evidence-Based Practice (COPL), is proud to announce a Request for Pilot Grant Proposals in 16 potential areas of orthotic and prosthetic research including an open topic. There are 16 topics total with a few examples listed below: Orthotic Management of […]

AOPA has presented free webinars for members on Prior Authorization on two dates – February 18 and February 25.  AOPA is committing substantial resources to additional education related to Medicare Prior Authorization.  Details of these resources are listed below: 1.       Introductory Webinar: February 18th and 25th 2016-2 separate dates (Available as a recording) 2.       February 2016 […]

All AOPA members will be receiving in the mail a copy of the recent Military Medicine Supplement.  Military Medicine is the official journal publication of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), and this edition arises in conjunction with the topics covered at the December annual meeting of AMSUS. There are two […]