Re: US-Politics: Qualified Provider Negotiated Rulemaking

Re: US-Politics: Qualified Provider Negotiated Rulemaking

I have been asked to post the replies to my questions and the simple answers
are:

The pending Negotiated Rulemaking relates to only some orthotic devices not
all? NO it also includes prostheses.

Issues relating to prosthetics are resolved? NO

MDs, PTs, and OT's are qualified providers for prostheses? YES

This pertains only to billing Medicare / Medicate? Some say Medicare only
others say it includes Medicate. Others say as Medicare goes other insurance
programs will follow.

MDs could supervise the fitting of prostheses by others in their offices?
YES

In states without licensure anyone may fit a prosthesis without a
prescription and bill the amputee directly? YES

As our amputee population grows will this mean non-traditional providers will
enter the market place providing prostheses using Gel liners, CAD/CAM,
modular components, and central fabrication, along the same lines a St. Paul,
MN orthopedic surgeon proposed in a article recently. These proposed new
profit centers could capture a good number of the Medicare population and
leave more demanding clientele to traditional providers.

Something to think about.

Al Pike, CP