Congress has passed a short-term spending bill to keep government programs operating at 2020 funding levels through December 11. Included in the 115-page bill are important revisions to the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Program (AAP) that extends the deadline for providers to start repaying Medicare advance payment loans. AOPA worked closely with our congressional champions […]

Recently, AOPA asked the DME MACs to clarify this existing language in the AFO/KAFO Policy Article related to custom fabricated braces: In addition, if the item is custom fabricated, a complete and clear description of the item, including what makes this item unique, and a breakdown of charges (material and labor used in fabrication). This […]

On September 19, 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released guidance articulating how to account for lost revenues and expenses and addressing recipient reporting requirements for those receiving Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments. The guidance applies generally to PRF recipients that received one or more PRF payments exceeding $10,000. The $10,000 reporting threshold […]

The DME MACs have recently clarified language in the AFO/KAFO Policy Article that currently states the following: MISCELLANEOUS In addition, if the item is custom fabricated, a complete and clear description of the item, including what makes this item unique, and a breakdown of charges (material and labor used in fabrication). This information should be […]

In July, we informed you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the resumption of certain audit activity beginning on August 3, 2020. CMS clarified that they will not be restarting all audits on August 3, but instead due to the continued Public Health Emergency (PHE) will be implementing a phased approach […]

On August 6, the Senate introduced the Medicare O&P Patient-Centered Care Act (S. 4503). This bipartisan legislation would improve access to, and quality of, orthotic and prosthetic care while simultaneously combatting fraud and abuse. The Senate bill is identical to the one introduced in the House late last year (H.R. 5262). The American Orthotic and […]

Contact: Joy Burwell jburwell@AOPAnet.org 757-646-4999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act Introduced in the Senate Washington, DC (August 7, 2020) – Yesterday, Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act (S. 4503) […]

On July 10, we informed you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the resumption of certain audit activity beginning on August 3, 2020. AOPA, through its involvement on the DME MAC Advisory Councils has since learned that CMS has clarified the scope of the audits that will resume on August 3. […]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated its COVID-19 Reduction of Provider Burden Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to provide updates on the resumption of Medicare audit activity and revised implementation dates for Medicare prior authorization of six lower limb prosthesis codes. Resumption of Medicare Audits The FAQ was updated to indicate […]

This week the Senate will start debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which lays out the 2021 budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and creates new programs within the DoD. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and David Purdue (R-GA) have introduced an amendment to the bill which […]