Re: Reply to DEMRC's Problem

Eliska Poirier

Description

Title:

Re: Reply to DEMRC's Problem

Creator:

Eliska Poirier

Date:

4/18/2002

Text:

Last week, Glen Waldner or someone from his company posted on this list a
call for O&P practitioners to become more active on legislative and
regulatory issues that impact the O&P community. The posting also asked that
either AOPA or ABC try to coordinate such an effort. AOPA very much
appreciates everyone's interest in advancing the concerns of the industry
through stepped up grassroots and other government relations activities. We
are more than willing to work with everybody in the O&P community to advance
the industry's goals in Washington, D.C.

The following are just some of the important issues that AOPA is pursuing on
behalf of its members:

Legislative Issues:

  * Oppose competitive bidding for orthotic and prosthetic services;
  * Maintain adequate Medicare reimbursement rates for O&P services;
  * Remove orthotic services from the Medicare skilled nursing
      facility prospective payment system;
  * Reduce Medicare's regulatory burden on O&P providers.

Regulatory Issues:

  * HIPAA compliance and other HIPAA related issues;
  * Resolve the L-5669 gel liner coding issue;
  * Negotiated rulemaking to determine who is qualified
      to provide O&P services;
  * Coding and reimbursement issues;
  * Streamline the regulatory process to:
        * Reduce documentation demands on O&P practitioners;
        * Marginalize the impact of Region C and other DMERC audits;
        * Provide ways to determine Medicare eligibility;
        * Create a framework for industry input on CMS coding and
            reimbursement determinations;
        * Improve payment of HCPCS 99 L-codes;
        * Hold physicians responsible for adequate patient records
            rather than shift the responsibility to O&P professionals.

We accomplish these and other industry goals through AOPA's strong volunteer
leadership, as well as general member and staff efforts. We believe that
providing a unified voice to identify and resolve important industry issues
is a team effort and requires the active participation of all individuals in
the O&P community. Therefore, we would hope those who aren't members
consider joining AOPA. Call Eliska Poirier at (571) 431-0876, ext. 214 to
find out about the many benefits to AOPA membership.

When it comes to AOPA membership - just do it - for yourself and your
profession.

Sincerely,
Eliska L. Poirier
Membership and Marketing Manager
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
ph: (571) 431-0876 ext. 214
fax: (571) 431-0899
<Email Address Redacted>
www.aopanet.org < <URL Redacted>>

                          

Citation

Eliska Poirier, “Re: Reply to DEMRC's Problem,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 7, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/218905.