Historic Agreement Protects Patients and Improves Quality of Custom Orthotic and Prosthetic Care
Orthotic & Prosthetic Alliance
Description
Collection
Title:
Historic Agreement Protects Patients and Improves Quality of Custom Orthotic and Prosthetic Care
Creator:
Orthotic & Prosthetic Alliance
Date:
12/18/2008
Text:
Historic Agreement Protects Patients and Improves Quality of Custom Orthotic
and Prosthetic Care
Five of the major national organizations representing the clinical,
business, and quality improvement aspects of the orthotic and prosthetic
(O&P) profession announced an historic agreement today to promote a
consensus set of minimum education and training requirements for providers
and suppliers of custom orthotics and prosthetics (i.e., orthopedic braces
and artificial limbs). The announcement comes as the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) is drafting long-overdue proposed regulations
to prohibit payment to any provider or supplier that is not qualified
through specific education and training to demonstrate competency to treat
patients requiring custom orthoses and prostheses. Currently, the Medicare
program does not require any specific education and training for providers
and many suppliers who provide O&P patient care.
This is a great day for Medicare patients with amputations or other
physical disabilities requiring O&P care, stated Tom Guth, C.P., President
of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics
(NAAOP). This agreement marks the first time the major O&P organizations
have come together to state a consensus position on minimum standards that
any provider or supplier must have to demonstrate competency.
This consensus position stems from legislation enacted in 2000, the
Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA), that sought to protect
Medicare patients from unqualified practitioners and suppliers while
limiting the potential for fraud and abuse, said James P. Rogers, C.P.O.,
FAAOP, President of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
(AAOP). We are hopeful that CMS will seriously consider this consensus
position from the O&P profession as they determine which providers and
suppliers have specific education and training sufficient to warrant payment
by Medicare for custom orthotics and prosthetics.
The agreement establishes specific education requirements by mandating a
bachelor’s degree, as well as specific formalized instruction, from
accredited O&P schools as the only standard in the United States for
providers and suppliers of custom O&P patient care. Reference to accredited
schools means a comprehensive set of O&P specific courses will be required
before a candidate is qualified to sit for an exam in orthotics or
prosthetics administered by one of two O&P credentialing organizations. A
training requirement stipulates that candidates must engage in supervised
patient care for at least one year in each discipline (e.g., orthotics or
prosthetics). Finally, a grandfathering provision will phase in the
consensus requirements.
With O&P technology becoming more complex and the wide array of
knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care, these consensus
education and training requirements establish a benchmark for quality into
the future, stated Robert S. Lin, C.P.O., FAAOP, President of the American
Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC).
Added Preston N. Madler, BOCO, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Board for Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC), And the
grandfathering provision will ensure that eligible candidates who wish to
take our O&P competency exams are not penalized as these requirements come
into effect.
The five organizations believe that this agreement will help CMS implement
appropriate education and training standards for O&P patient care through
the regulations they plan to propose in the near future. We see these
education and training requirements as the long-term standard that should be
adopted by all public programs and private payers of custom orthotic and
prosthetic care, including state licensure initiatives, stated Brian L.
Gustin, President of the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association
(AOPA). We expect that CMS will adhere to the congressional intent of
the statute they are regulating and do the right thing for Medicare patients
requiring O&P care.
The five organizations that are parties to this agreement are the following:
• American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists – (AAOP). The Academy
is the national organization representing the professionals who provide
patient care in the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Contact: Peter D.
Rosenstein, Executive Director, tel. (202) 380-3663.
• American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics – (ABC).
ABC is a national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic,
prosthetic and pedorthic professions. Contact: Catherine A. Carter,
Executive Director, tel. (703) 836-7114.
• American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association – (AOPA). AOPA is the
largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping orthotic and prosthetic
businesses and professionals navigate the multitude of issues surrounding
the delivery of quality patient care. Contact: Thomas F. Fise, Executive
Director, tel. (571) 431-0802.
• Board for Certification/Accreditation, International. – (BOC). The BOC
certifies orthotists, prosthetists and pedorthists, and accredits facilities
of durable medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic suppliers. Contact:
Greg Safko, President, tel. (410) 581-6222.
• National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics –
(NAAOP). NAAOP is a non-profit trade association dedicated to educating
the public and promoting public policy that is in the interest of the O&P
patient. Contact: George W. Breece, Executive Director, tel. (800) 622-6740.
Additional Information
Joint Statement of Agreement between BOC and the O&P Alliance Organizations
<URL Redacted>
CMS Coverletter Re: Regulation of BIPA § 427 Regarding Qualifications for
Orthotic and Prosthetic Providers and Suppliers
<URL Redacted>
and Prosthetic Care
Five of the major national organizations representing the clinical,
business, and quality improvement aspects of the orthotic and prosthetic
(O&P) profession announced an historic agreement today to promote a
consensus set of minimum education and training requirements for providers
and suppliers of custom orthotics and prosthetics (i.e., orthopedic braces
and artificial limbs). The announcement comes as the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) is drafting long-overdue proposed regulations
to prohibit payment to any provider or supplier that is not qualified
through specific education and training to demonstrate competency to treat
patients requiring custom orthoses and prostheses. Currently, the Medicare
program does not require any specific education and training for providers
and many suppliers who provide O&P patient care.
This is a great day for Medicare patients with amputations or other
physical disabilities requiring O&P care, stated Tom Guth, C.P., President
of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics
(NAAOP). This agreement marks the first time the major O&P organizations
have come together to state a consensus position on minimum standards that
any provider or supplier must have to demonstrate competency.
This consensus position stems from legislation enacted in 2000, the
Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA), that sought to protect
Medicare patients from unqualified practitioners and suppliers while
limiting the potential for fraud and abuse, said James P. Rogers, C.P.O.,
FAAOP, President of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
(AAOP). We are hopeful that CMS will seriously consider this consensus
position from the O&P profession as they determine which providers and
suppliers have specific education and training sufficient to warrant payment
by Medicare for custom orthotics and prosthetics.
The agreement establishes specific education requirements by mandating a
bachelor’s degree, as well as specific formalized instruction, from
accredited O&P schools as the only standard in the United States for
providers and suppliers of custom O&P patient care. Reference to accredited
schools means a comprehensive set of O&P specific courses will be required
before a candidate is qualified to sit for an exam in orthotics or
prosthetics administered by one of two O&P credentialing organizations. A
training requirement stipulates that candidates must engage in supervised
patient care for at least one year in each discipline (e.g., orthotics or
prosthetics). Finally, a grandfathering provision will phase in the
consensus requirements.
With O&P technology becoming more complex and the wide array of
knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care, these consensus
education and training requirements establish a benchmark for quality into
the future, stated Robert S. Lin, C.P.O., FAAOP, President of the American
Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC).
Added Preston N. Madler, BOCO, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Board for Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC), And the
grandfathering provision will ensure that eligible candidates who wish to
take our O&P competency exams are not penalized as these requirements come
into effect.
The five organizations believe that this agreement will help CMS implement
appropriate education and training standards for O&P patient care through
the regulations they plan to propose in the near future. We see these
education and training requirements as the long-term standard that should be
adopted by all public programs and private payers of custom orthotic and
prosthetic care, including state licensure initiatives, stated Brian L.
Gustin, President of the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association
(AOPA). We expect that CMS will adhere to the congressional intent of
the statute they are regulating and do the right thing for Medicare patients
requiring O&P care.
The five organizations that are parties to this agreement are the following:
• American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists – (AAOP). The Academy
is the national organization representing the professionals who provide
patient care in the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Contact: Peter D.
Rosenstein, Executive Director, tel. (202) 380-3663.
• American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics – (ABC).
ABC is a national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic,
prosthetic and pedorthic professions. Contact: Catherine A. Carter,
Executive Director, tel. (703) 836-7114.
• American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association – (AOPA). AOPA is the
largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping orthotic and prosthetic
businesses and professionals navigate the multitude of issues surrounding
the delivery of quality patient care. Contact: Thomas F. Fise, Executive
Director, tel. (571) 431-0802.
• Board for Certification/Accreditation, International. – (BOC). The BOC
certifies orthotists, prosthetists and pedorthists, and accredits facilities
of durable medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic suppliers. Contact:
Greg Safko, President, tel. (410) 581-6222.
• National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics –
(NAAOP). NAAOP is a non-profit trade association dedicated to educating
the public and promoting public policy that is in the interest of the O&P
patient. Contact: George W. Breece, Executive Director, tel. (800) 622-6740.
Additional Information
Joint Statement of Agreement between BOC and the O&P Alliance Organizations
<URL Redacted>
CMS Coverletter Re: Regulation of BIPA § 427 Regarding Qualifications for
Orthotic and Prosthetic Providers and Suppliers
<URL Redacted>
Citation
Orthotic & Prosthetic Alliance, “Historic Agreement Protects Patients and Improves Quality of Custom Orthotic and Prosthetic Care,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 4, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/229888.
