News

Editorial Published on Dobson DaVanzo Research Proving O&P Saves Lives and Money

January 2, 2015 at 9:39 am

AOPA immediate past-president Anita Liberman-Lampear of University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center has published an editorial in the Roanoke Times on the Dobson-DaVanzo research, funded by AOPA and commissioned by the Amputee Coalition, that used Medicare’s own data to prove that providing orthotics and prosthetics is cost-effective. The study was the basis for Mobility Saves, the public […]

$10 Million for O&P Outcomes Research Included in the Cromnibus Bill, and RAC Concerns Addressed

December 16, 2014 at 12:34 pm

Great news for O&P outcomes research! The $1.1 trillion combined continuing resolution and omnibus appropriations bill (the “cromnibus” bill) enacted December 13 to keep the government running includes a Department of Defense (DoD) section with an additional $10 million for O&P outcomes research funding.  This was also included in last year’s budget and we are […]

AOPA Submits Comments on OMHA’s ALJ Backlog and Increased Requests for Hearings

December 5, 2014 at 11:51 am

Following the October 29 Medicare Appellant Forum hosted by the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened a comment period to solicit suggestions for addressing the growth in the number of requests for Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings, and to help to clear the backlog of […]

2015 Medicare DMEPOS Fee Schedule Released

December 1, 2014 at 10:45 am

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2015 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule, effective for claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2015. The net Medicare fee increase for O&P services for 2015 is 1.5%.  This is based on a 2.1% increase in the consumer pricing index for […]

19% of Patients with a Medicare-Reimbursed Off the Shelf Device Later Receive a Custom Device

November 25, 2014 at 10:06 am

New analysis from Dobson DaVanzo: 19% of patients with a Medicare-reimbursed Off the Shelf device later receive a custom-fitted or custom-fabricated orthotic device Medicare’s own data shows that frequently patients who receive a Medicare-reimbursed OTS device subsequently also receive a Medicare-reimbursed custom-fitted or custom-fabricated orthotic device. Clearly, some modest portion of these data reflect instances in […]

Many AOPA Concerns Included in Ways and Means Committee Draft Bill Addressing Medicare Fraud, RACs, and ALJ Delays

November 20, 2014 at 2:12 pm

AOPA has been anticipating that the House Ways & Means Committee will be putting forward a bill to address Medicare fraud, hospitals, RACs and the long delays for ALJ hearings. Our strategy has involved working closely with two representatives who have been working on their own bills to address RAC problems, Reps. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), […]

New HCPCS Codes for 2015

November 12, 2014 at 3:19 pm

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new HCPCS codes for 2015. There were several changes to the codes that describe orthotics and prosthetics for 2015. Below is a breakdown of the new codes, code descriptor changes and code deletions. All changes are effective for claims with a date of service […]

What Do the Election Results Mean for O&P?

November 6, 2014 at 4:04 pm

The November 4 Election brought in big changes in Congress, but how will this affect your business? Read the analysis from AOPA Executive Director, Tom Fise, JD below.

CMS Issues Final Rule on OTS Orthotics

November 4, 2014 at 8:25 am

CMS Reverses Fields, Scuttles Current Process for Redefining Orthotics, and for Limiting Scope of Practice for Certified Orthotic Fitters Late on Friday afternoon, October 31, CMS released the massive final rule covering end stage renal disease payments and a host of other topics, including its proposal to further amend the regulatory definition of “minimal self-adjustment,” […]

Two Leading Senators Write CMS to Support AOPA View, and Insist That CMS Observe Narrower View of “Minimal Self-Adjustment” in OTS Orthotics

October 20, 2014 at 11:14 am

Read the important letter to CMS Administrator Tavenner from Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA).  The letter speaks for itself, but its essence is to directly challenge CMS for exceeding the simple and straightforward statutory language “minimal self-adjustment” in defining off-the-shelf orthotics. These leading legislators, both of whom were in the Senate about a decade […]