Re: U.S. Politics: Policy Forum
Bobvanhook
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Collection
Title:
Re: U.S. Politics: Policy Forum
Creator:
Bobvanhook
Text:
Apparently my Word 97 attachment didn't come through well, so here it is as an
rtf file.
Bob Van Hook
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1 \deff0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f3\froman\fcharset2\fprq2{\*\panose 05050102010706020507}Symbol;}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright \cgrid \snext0 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive Default Paragraph Font;}}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid67698689\listsimple{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\jclisttab\tx360 }{\listname ;}\listid115760678}{\list\listtemplateid67698689\listsimple{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\jclisttab\tx360 }{\listname ;}\listid687681148}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid687681148\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid115760678\listoverridecount0\ls2}}{\info{\title Over 100 O&P advocates from 32 states stormed Capitol Hill this week as a part of AOPA’s Policy Forum}{\author Robert T. Van Hook}{\operator Robert T. Van Hook}{\creatim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr11\min43}{\revtim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr11\min43}{\printim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr9\min10}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages1}{\nofwords391}{\nofchars2229}{\*\company OPNO}{\nofcharsws2737}{\vern71}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\formshade\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright \cgrid {Over 100 O&P advocates from 32 states stormed Capitol Hill this week as a part of AOPA\rquote s Policy Forum. This year\rquote s event featured a new program and structure that culminated in over 100 visits to the offices of Senators and Members of Congress. The results of this activity will be unfolding for months to come.
\par
\par After nearly two days of training and issue briefings, the AOPA members in attendance were ready to carry the O&P message to the Hill on Tuesday, March 10. Attendees discussed with their representatives policies framed by AOPA\rquote s Government Relations Committee and Board of Directors, as well as other concerns that arose from their own experience in the field. The primary messages were simple:
\par
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {Advocates described the O&P profession and how it helps people, focusing on the custom nature of O&P devices and the high level of skills required to provide them.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlcont\ilvl0\ls0\pnrnot0\pndec }\adjustright {
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {Suppliers without the necessary skills and facilities are providing many highly technical custom O&P services. As examples, attendees showed their Hill contacts pictures from the }{\i Electronic Illustrated Guide }{of several custom devices and corresponding HCFA data showing the types of provides being paid for the devices.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlcont\ilvl0\ls0\pnrnot0\pndec }\adjustright {
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {If Congress wants to improve the quality of patient care and curtail waste, fraud and abuse in O&P, it should establish educational standards for O&P practice and ensure that all custom O&P care billed under the L-codes is supervised by qualified professionals.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright {
\par AOPA members reported good responses from the congressional offices they visited. Most Congressional offices were dumbfounded that opticians, department stores, pharmacies, grocery stores and DME companies were being paid for custom fabricated devices. Many promised to take action on AOPA\rquote s behalf, including cosponsoring legislation to alleviate the problems or contacting HCFA, the OIG or the SADMERC.
\par
\par While gaining congressional interest in these issues was a big victory, the AOPA Policy Forum was a big success in other ways, too.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Ten AOPA members dug deeply in their pockets to attend a private President\rquote s Dinner with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a long time friend of the disability community. The generosity and commitment of these AOPA members gave them the opportunity to tell the O&P story to the senator in an intimate setting.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Members contributed over $4,500 to the O&P Political Action Committee (PAC).
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Twenty-two Policy Forum attendees joined AOPA\rquote s \ldblquote grassroots\rdblquote program, the O&P Legislative Action Network (OPLAN), bringing the total number of OPLAN members to over 50.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Most importantly, the attendees returned from their visits to the Hill feeling successful and empowered. They are ready to do it again next year.
\par }}
rtf file.
Bob Van Hook
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1 \deff0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f3\froman\fcharset2\fprq2{\*\panose 05050102010706020507}Symbol;}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright \cgrid \snext0 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive Default Paragraph Font;}}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid67698689\listsimple{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\jclisttab\tx360 }{\listname ;}\listid115760678}{\list\listtemplateid67698689\listsimple{\listlevel\levelnfc23\leveljc0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\jclisttab\tx360 }{\listname ;}\listid687681148}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid687681148\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid115760678\listoverridecount0\ls2}}{\info{\title Over 100 O&P advocates from 32 states stormed Capitol Hill this week as a part of AOPA’s Policy Forum}{\author Robert T. Van Hook}{\operator Robert T. Van Hook}{\creatim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr11\min43}{\revtim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr11\min43}{\printim\yr1998\mo3\dy16\hr9\min10}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages1}{\nofwords391}{\nofchars2229}{\*\company OPNO}{\nofcharsws2737}{\vern71}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\formshade\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright \cgrid {Over 100 O&P advocates from 32 states stormed Capitol Hill this week as a part of AOPA\rquote s Policy Forum. This year\rquote s event featured a new program and structure that culminated in over 100 visits to the offices of Senators and Members of Congress. The results of this activity will be unfolding for months to come.
\par
\par After nearly two days of training and issue briefings, the AOPA members in attendance were ready to carry the O&P message to the Hill on Tuesday, March 10. Attendees discussed with their representatives policies framed by AOPA\rquote s Government Relations Committee and Board of Directors, as well as other concerns that arose from their own experience in the field. The primary messages were simple:
\par
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {Advocates described the O&P profession and how it helps people, focusing on the custom nature of O&P devices and the high level of skills required to provide them.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlcont\ilvl0\ls0\pnrnot0\pndec }\adjustright {
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {Suppliers without the necessary skills and facilities are providing many highly technical custom O&P services. As examples, attendees showed their Hill contacts pictures from the }{\i Electronic Illustrated Guide }{of several custom devices and corresponding HCFA data showing the types of provides being paid for the devices.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlcont\ilvl0\ls0\pnrnot0\pndec }\adjustright {
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls1\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls1\adjustright {If Congress wants to improve the quality of patient care and curtail waste, fraud and abuse in O&P, it should establish educational standards for O&P practice and ensure that all custom O&P care billed under the L-codes is supervised by qualified professionals.
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright {
\par AOPA members reported good responses from the congressional offices they visited. Most Congressional offices were dumbfounded that opticians, department stores, pharmacies, grocery stores and DME companies were being paid for custom fabricated devices. Many promised to take action on AOPA\rquote s behalf, including cosponsoring legislation to alleviate the problems or contacting HCFA, the OIG or the SADMERC.
\par
\par While gaining congressional interest in these issues was a big victory, the AOPA Policy Forum was a big success in other ways, too.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Ten AOPA members dug deeply in their pockets to attend a private President\rquote s Dinner with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a long time friend of the disability community. The generosity and commitment of these AOPA members gave them the opportunity to tell the O&P story to the senator in an intimate setting.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Members contributed over $4,500 to the O&P Political Action Committee (PAC).
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Twenty-two Policy Forum attendees joined AOPA\rquote s \ldblquote grassroots\rdblquote program, the O&P Legislative Action Network (OPLAN), bringing the total number of OPLAN members to over 50.
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\f3\cgrid \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li360\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx360{\*\pn \pnlvlblt\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnf3\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnhang{\pntxtb \'b7}}\ls2\adjustright {Most importantly, the attendees returned from their visits to the Hill feeling successful and empowered. They are ready to do it again next year.
\par }}
Citation
Bobvanhook, “Re: U.S. Politics: Policy Forum,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210507.
