On June 3, the O&P Alliance, including AOPA’s President Charles Dankmeyer, and Executive Director Tom Fise, JD, met with the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. The meeting included several topics: local coverage determination (LCD) recognition of O&P clinicians’ notes as part of the medical record; who can bill […]
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AOPA & Congress Team up to Hold HHS to Task
Below is the text of an email AOPA Executive Director, Tom Fise, JD, sent to AOPA’s Board of Directors and allied organizations announcing the success of the sign-on letter that obtained the wide support of members of Congress responding to the full court press from AOPA members and the other O&P organizations. “I am pleased […]
Editorial Published on Dobson DaVanzo Research Proving O&P Saves Lives and Money
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 […]
CMS Issues Final Rule on OTS Orthotics
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
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 […]
AOPA to Testify Today during SBA Hearing on Regulatory Fairness
AOPA will be testifying during today’s Regional SBA Hearing being held in Seattle, WA titled “Regulatory Fairness Hearing for Small Business.” AOPA will testify on behalf of our members on the RAC and Pre-payment audit practices jeopardizing the economic viability of our members. You may read AOPA’s submitted testimony online. Background This hearing is being […]
Next Medicare Open Door Forum to Discuss the CMS Proposed Physician Documentation Template Scheduled for June 13, 2013
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that the second of several Open Door Forums to discuss the proposed physician documentation template for O&P services will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 4pm-5pm EDT. AOPA encourages all of its members to participate on this call and provide feedback to CMS regarding […]
CMS Publishes Draft Clinical Template Designed to Assist Physicians to Properly Document Medical Need for Lower Limb Prostheses
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a draft document on its website that, in its words, “will assist physicians with documenting the physician notes that substantiate the need for a Lower Limb Prostheses.” AOPA believes that the draft template, in its proposed form, actually represents imposition by CMS of a serious […]
AOPA’s Concerns Prompts CMS to Modify Limits for RAC Audits
AOPA’s continuing conversation and efforts to convince CMS of the cash flow killing harm to patient care and member patient care facilities imposed by the pervasive and aggressive RAC audits together with aggressive AOPA member advocacy with their legislators flowing from the Policy Forum appears to have borne some fruit. The Centers for Medicare and […]