Re: Urgent !:Federal legislative O&P initiative

Re: Urgent !:Federal legislative O&P initiative

Bobvanhook

Tony,

I appreciate your sense of urgency. I am sure that you appreciate that AOPA
and its sister organizations have members that must be involved in the process
of formulating such an important policy. We have a letter drafted in response
to your request if you will just show a little patience. Slandering us in a
public forum is probably not going to help much.

AOPA has a policy in support of the concept of restricting access to custom L-
codes to qualified O&P providers and facilities. Over 100 members from 32
states took that message to the Hill during the AOPA Policy Forum in March.
We distributed position papers to over 100 congressional offices showing
support for the policy to contain waste, fraud and abuse and improve the
quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries.

You could help by encouraging Congressman Wexler fix and introduce his bill.
All we have at this point is a draft -- a draft with several serious drafting
problems. We have met with Wexler and his staff, and we are meeting with him
again next week. It is difficult to know how deep his commitment is to this
bill. It is important that you (and others who live in his district) get his
ear and get him moving. It is also important that he find some original
cosponsors that carry some weight in the House. AOPA has volunteered to help
with redrafting the bill and finding cosponsors.

Have you or others in his district contributed to Rep. Wexler's campaign
committee? That is one way to get and keep his attention.

While we are waiting for you and Rep. Wexler, AOPA is writing its own bill for
introduction. The AOPA Government Relations Committee should be reviewing it
next week, then we will be presenting it to the field and asking folks to get
mobilized. In the mean time, AOPA is visiting offices on the Hill and finding
considerable interest in the concept of defining the types of practitioners
and facilities that can bill custom L-codes. We are presenting data in
support of the eventual bill.

I hope this helps clarify the situation. Anyone with questions should feel
free to contact me.

Bob Van Hook

Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Ste. 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
email: <Email Address Redacted>