Fw: WHERE IS ACA ??? US-POLITICS: NAAOP Supports Appropriate O&P Education Standards
Anthony T. Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Fw: WHERE IS ACA ??? US-POLITICS: NAAOP Supports Appropriate O&P Education Standards
Creator:
Anthony T. Barr
Date:
3/20/2002
Text:
As important crucial and timely initiatives are being scheduled to help encourage proper and qualified O&P services, one has to question why the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) has not endorsed a similar position statement as recently stated below by the National Association For the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP).
A formal request for support was presented to the ACA board leadership this past July by our organization.
To date, ACA has refused to take a position on supporting the qualification language for providers, state regulation efforts of the profession and other consumer advocacy initiatives presently on the table that would enhance the chances of receiving proper O&P health care coverage.
One might ask, WHY?? !!
The qualification requirement of providers to obtain the highest education and credentials possible is supported by many professionals and professional organizations (see below) and recognized as the standard by the American Medical Association.
Why has ACA refused to take a position for the over 2 million amputees that they allegedly represent in an advocacy role to encourage receiving qualified and affordable coverage ?
Neither has ACA requested to participate in the Negotiated Rules Committee Hearings which will develop proposed qualifications and rule for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. The purpose of the negotiated rulemaking would be to establish standards for providers regarding making, fitting and billing Medicare for prosthetics and certain customized orthotics. The outcome of these hearings would result in the availability of proper and affordable O&P coverage by Medicare.
ACA, a national consumer organization, that allegedly advocates for the nations 2 million amputees, has not risen to the accession in supporting any of these initiatives.
To date, there is not ONE O&P consumer organization of the 15 recommended participants, that has been identified to participate in the NRC meetings!
The Barr Foundation has made a formal request to be appointed on the Negotiated Rule Making committee.
We ask for your support by e-mail.telephone or letter to the coordinator of the initiative:
Commissioner Ira B.Lobel
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
1 Clinton Square ,Room 952
Albany ,New York 12207
tele 518-431-0130
e-mail <Email Address Redacted>
Our organization will continue to support any and all positions and initiatives that would lead to achieving the highest standards for professional O&P patient care and affordable quality coverage from Medicare and private third party payers.
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
> ABC Credentialed O&P Practitioners & Facility Owners:
>
> The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics
> (NAAOP) is working hard to be the professional trade association
> representing O&P practitioners and facilities concerned with ensuring
> the recognition of appropriate minimum education essentials and training
> standards for practitioners providing comprehensive O&P healthcare
> services.
>
> NAAOP was founded on the principle that individuals in need of
> comprehensive O&P services should have the assurance that they are
> receiving the best care available to them and that it is being provided
> by appropriately trained and educated O&P practitioners -- practitioners
> who meet appropriately recognized standards. Also, standards that are
> consistent amongst today's allied healthcare standards and assure
> appropriate use of available technology.
>
> It is for these reasons, NAAOP strongly supports the O&P Practitioner
> Education Standards of the National Commission on Orthotics and
> Prosthetics (NCOPE), which are approved by the Commission for
> Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and
> represented by the credentialing programs of the American Board for
> Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics.
>
> As a national O&P organization, NAAOP is dedicated to pursing
> legislative and regulatory issues which recognize and support these
> standards and the principles they represent. Our leadership is highly
> dedicated to these principles and the belief that they are the most
> appropriate way to assure the quality of O&P care for the disabled
> individuals in need of comprehensive O&P healthcare services.
>
> We ask that you first consider supporting NAAOP and our efforts through
> membership in our organization if you support these principles. We then
> ask that you become an active participant in our efforts to convey these
> principles to our legislators and regulatory agencies.
>
> The following statements represent the individual ideals and thinking of
> NAAOP's leadership regarding the principles we support:
>
> The Orthotist/Prosthetist member of a healthcare delivery team must
> posses a thorough understanding of specific biomedical and technical
> engineering sciences when developing treatment intervention to
> appropriately address the needs of individuals. A minimum amount of
> knowledge and skill are necessary in providing the level of care
> individuals deserve and expect. The CAAHEP standards represent the
> minimum body-of-knowledge an Orthotist/Prosthetist should obtain to
> function as an equally contributing member of the healthcare delivery
> team. It is my pleasure to work closely with NAAOP in advancing the O&P
> profession.
> Michael J. Allen, CPO/L, FAAOP, President
>
> As with any healthcare profession, the quality and outcome of O&P care
> is of utmost importance and concern to the individual receiving that
> care. The CAAHEP approved, NCOPE Education Standards for O&P
> practitioners, along with the credentialing standards of the ABC for
> practitioners, represents the most meaningful way of assuring the
> quality and outcome of comprehensive O&P healthcare provided to a
> disabled individual. I am proud of NAAOP's position of support for the
> recognition of these standards and for the opportunity I have had, both
> as a practitioner and a consumer of O&P healthcare, to advocate for the
> recognition and understanding of these minimum standards for O&P
> practitioners.
> John N. Billock, CPO/L, FAAOP, Vice President
>
> NAAOP, in a few short years, has gained considerable respect from
> administration staff and government regulators for its ability to
> articulate issues, educate people to the complexity of those issues, and
> clearly show the impact those issues have and will have, on all
> concerned. NAAOP has also made corrective recommendations that provide
> benefit to all the interested parties - the patient, provider, and the
> payer. Of most significant importance, NAAOP has stood firmly on the
> issue of qualified O&P providers, advocating for increased quality and
> numbers of practitioners in O&P. It is for these basic reasons I have
> personally and professionally supported the efforts of NAAOP as a
> founding member since 1987
> Jan Stokosa, CP, Immediate Past President
>
> NAAOP has consistently supported the highest standards for professional
> O&P patient care of any O&P trade association. NAAOP has never opted to
> lower care standards for political expediency or profit. Rather, NAAOP
> consistently advocates for increasing the number and quality of
> certified orthotic and prosthetic professionals available to meet the
> growing needs of aging O&P patients. NAAOP also advocates aggressively
> for increased access for professional O&P patient care, especially for
> the most advanced O&P technology that improves function and quality of
> life in all care settings. It is humbling to work with such a dedicated
> organization.
> Mark D. De Harde, Government Relation Co-Chairman
A formal request for support was presented to the ACA board leadership this past July by our organization.
To date, ACA has refused to take a position on supporting the qualification language for providers, state regulation efforts of the profession and other consumer advocacy initiatives presently on the table that would enhance the chances of receiving proper O&P health care coverage.
One might ask, WHY?? !!
The qualification requirement of providers to obtain the highest education and credentials possible is supported by many professionals and professional organizations (see below) and recognized as the standard by the American Medical Association.
Why has ACA refused to take a position for the over 2 million amputees that they allegedly represent in an advocacy role to encourage receiving qualified and affordable coverage ?
Neither has ACA requested to participate in the Negotiated Rules Committee Hearings which will develop proposed qualifications and rule for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. The purpose of the negotiated rulemaking would be to establish standards for providers regarding making, fitting and billing Medicare for prosthetics and certain customized orthotics. The outcome of these hearings would result in the availability of proper and affordable O&P coverage by Medicare.
ACA, a national consumer organization, that allegedly advocates for the nations 2 million amputees, has not risen to the accession in supporting any of these initiatives.
To date, there is not ONE O&P consumer organization of the 15 recommended participants, that has been identified to participate in the NRC meetings!
The Barr Foundation has made a formal request to be appointed on the Negotiated Rule Making committee.
We ask for your support by e-mail.telephone or letter to the coordinator of the initiative:
Commissioner Ira B.Lobel
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
1 Clinton Square ,Room 952
Albany ,New York 12207
tele 518-431-0130
e-mail <Email Address Redacted>
Our organization will continue to support any and all positions and initiatives that would lead to achieving the highest standards for professional O&P patient care and affordable quality coverage from Medicare and private third party payers.
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
> ABC Credentialed O&P Practitioners & Facility Owners:
>
> The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics
> (NAAOP) is working hard to be the professional trade association
> representing O&P practitioners and facilities concerned with ensuring
> the recognition of appropriate minimum education essentials and training
> standards for practitioners providing comprehensive O&P healthcare
> services.
>
> NAAOP was founded on the principle that individuals in need of
> comprehensive O&P services should have the assurance that they are
> receiving the best care available to them and that it is being provided
> by appropriately trained and educated O&P practitioners -- practitioners
> who meet appropriately recognized standards. Also, standards that are
> consistent amongst today's allied healthcare standards and assure
> appropriate use of available technology.
>
> It is for these reasons, NAAOP strongly supports the O&P Practitioner
> Education Standards of the National Commission on Orthotics and
> Prosthetics (NCOPE), which are approved by the Commission for
> Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and
> represented by the credentialing programs of the American Board for
> Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics.
>
> As a national O&P organization, NAAOP is dedicated to pursing
> legislative and regulatory issues which recognize and support these
> standards and the principles they represent. Our leadership is highly
> dedicated to these principles and the belief that they are the most
> appropriate way to assure the quality of O&P care for the disabled
> individuals in need of comprehensive O&P healthcare services.
>
> We ask that you first consider supporting NAAOP and our efforts through
> membership in our organization if you support these principles. We then
> ask that you become an active participant in our efforts to convey these
> principles to our legislators and regulatory agencies.
>
> The following statements represent the individual ideals and thinking of
> NAAOP's leadership regarding the principles we support:
>
> The Orthotist/Prosthetist member of a healthcare delivery team must
> posses a thorough understanding of specific biomedical and technical
> engineering sciences when developing treatment intervention to
> appropriately address the needs of individuals. A minimum amount of
> knowledge and skill are necessary in providing the level of care
> individuals deserve and expect. The CAAHEP standards represent the
> minimum body-of-knowledge an Orthotist/Prosthetist should obtain to
> function as an equally contributing member of the healthcare delivery
> team. It is my pleasure to work closely with NAAOP in advancing the O&P
> profession.
> Michael J. Allen, CPO/L, FAAOP, President
>
> As with any healthcare profession, the quality and outcome of O&P care
> is of utmost importance and concern to the individual receiving that
> care. The CAAHEP approved, NCOPE Education Standards for O&P
> practitioners, along with the credentialing standards of the ABC for
> practitioners, represents the most meaningful way of assuring the
> quality and outcome of comprehensive O&P healthcare provided to a
> disabled individual. I am proud of NAAOP's position of support for the
> recognition of these standards and for the opportunity I have had, both
> as a practitioner and a consumer of O&P healthcare, to advocate for the
> recognition and understanding of these minimum standards for O&P
> practitioners.
> John N. Billock, CPO/L, FAAOP, Vice President
>
> NAAOP, in a few short years, has gained considerable respect from
> administration staff and government regulators for its ability to
> articulate issues, educate people to the complexity of those issues, and
> clearly show the impact those issues have and will have, on all
> concerned. NAAOP has also made corrective recommendations that provide
> benefit to all the interested parties - the patient, provider, and the
> payer. Of most significant importance, NAAOP has stood firmly on the
> issue of qualified O&P providers, advocating for increased quality and
> numbers of practitioners in O&P. It is for these basic reasons I have
> personally and professionally supported the efforts of NAAOP as a
> founding member since 1987
> Jan Stokosa, CP, Immediate Past President
>
> NAAOP has consistently supported the highest standards for professional
> O&P patient care of any O&P trade association. NAAOP has never opted to
> lower care standards for political expediency or profit. Rather, NAAOP
> consistently advocates for increasing the number and quality of
> certified orthotic and prosthetic professionals available to meet the
> growing needs of aging O&P patients. NAAOP also advocates aggressively
> for increased access for professional O&P patient care, especially for
> the most advanced O&P technology that improves function and quality of
> life in all care settings. It is humbling to work with such a dedicated
> organization.
> Mark D. De Harde, Government Relation Co-Chairman
Citation
Anthony T. Barr, “Fw: WHERE IS ACA ??? US-POLITICS: NAAOP Supports Appropriate O&P Education Standards,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 8, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/218554.
