Last week was a remarkable week for O&P! We had FOUR exciting things happen: 1.) AOPA hosted a press event to call attention to the Lower Limb LCD’s effects in the private sector; 2.) A bill was introduced that would place a moratorium on implementing an LCD Proposal; 3.) AOPA hosted the Policy Forum and […]
The 2016 Policy Forum and O&P Legislation Writing Congress was a huge success! Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about the new experience of drafting a bill to take to the Hill. Participants broke into groups to discuss their highest priorities for legislation, and after reconvening, the resulting “Prosthetic and Orthotic Care Modernization Act of 2016″ focuses on […]
On April 25, Representative Ellmers (R-NC-02) introduced HR 5045: Preserving Access to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016. The bill is “to impose a moratorium on the implementation of a proposed Medicare local coverage determination on lower limb prostheses”. The bill places a moratorium until June 30, 2017 on implementing the July 16, 2015 Local […]
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 […]
