Re: U.S. Politics: AOPA Position on Legislation

Robert VanHook

Description

Title:

Re: U.S. Politics: AOPA Position on Legislation

Creator:

Robert VanHook

Date:

3/12/1999

Text:

Al,
AOPA's position paper on reducing fraud and abuse advises Congress to:
Require Qualified Providers
The critical difference between the DME and the O&P provider is the level
of education and training needed to provide comprehensive O&P services.
Comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic care requires highly specialized and
trained practitioners who design, fit and fabricate a customized artificial
limb or orthopedic brace for the particular needs of each patient.
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC)
offers a high level of credentialing standards for orthotists and
prosthetists and accreditation for O&P facilities. It is the most stringent
and widely recognized credentialing organization for O&P services.
As you know, facilities get paid by Medicare, not practitioners.
 Therefore, it is essential that legislation refer to the facility at which
a qualified practitioner works. AOPA's draft legislation says that a
qualified supplier is an organization accredited by ABC (which requires
that care be supervised by an ABC certified practitioner) or other programs
with standards essentially similar to those of ABC. Alternatively, an
organization may also qualify for payment if it has a practitioner licensed
by the State in which the service is delivered or has at least 10 years
experience in relevant practice.

I hope this helps.

Bob

Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
Email: <Email Address Redacted>
        Webpage: www.opoffice.org


On Friday, March 12, 1999 4:30 PM, <Email Address Redacted> [SMTP: <Email Address Redacted> ]
wrote:
> In a message dated 3/12/99 1:03:09 PM Central Standard Time,
> <Email Address Redacted> writes:
>
> << ensure that all custom O&P care billed under the L-codes is
supervised by
> qualified professionals. >>
>
> Bob, for the record and to make it perfectly clear to us, will you please
> define the qualified professionals in this statement. Does it mean in
this
> statement an individual certified by the American Board for Certification
in
> Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. as a Certified Prosthetist, Certified
Orthotist,
> or Certified Prosthetist Orthotist.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Respectively,
>
> Al Pike, CP

Citation

Robert VanHook, “Re: U.S. Politics: AOPA Position on Legislation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/211386.