Tag: orthotics

WASHINGTON – O&P practitioners have renewed their push to be recognized as clinicians – a distinction they say is critical now more than ever to ensure access to care.  While stakeholders have long fought for this, the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for it, says Justin Beland, director of government affairs for the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, because only certain clinicians have been able to get reimbursed for telehealth...

WASHINGTON – Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., has reintroduced the Medicare O&P Patient-Centered Care Act to improve access to care and combat fraud and abuse.  The legislation would create separate statutory requirements for the provision of orthoses and prostheses, distinguishing O&P practitioners from other DME suppliers. It would also restore the term “minimal self-adjustment” to more clearly define off-the-shelf orthoses; and prohibit...

REYKJAVIK – Össur has announced that it will be carbon neutral in 2021, its 50th anniversary. The company will be carbon neutral for energy and fuel consumption, waste generation, business travel, transportation of goods, and electricity consumption of finished goods suppliers. “We care about the environment and take our responsibility seriously,” said Jon Sigurdsson, president and CEO of Össur, who has led the company for 25 years. “We...

AUSTIN, Texas – The Hanger Foundation has created the Hanger Foundation Diversity Scholarship to attract more diverse candidates to O&P graduate programs. Hanger Inc., which launched the foundation in 2009, says it is committed to addressing racism and creating a more inclusive profession. “Research has shown that clinicians of color are underrepresented within the O&P industry,” said Gloria Gonzales Dholakia, PhD, executive director of the Hanger Foundation....

I received a press release last week from the DOJ about the latest news in Medicare fraud involving, what else, braces! Juan Camilo Perez Buitrago and two of his employees submitted more than $109 million in false claims for arm, back, knee and shoulder braces. (nothing to see here). But it’s the details that really made me say, WTF? You see, as part of his scheme, Buitrago had the employees, Jessica Jones and Elizabeth Putulin, list his wife, mother and yacht captain as directors for...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The BOC board of directors has announced its 2021 executive committee and elected a new board member. The executive committee officers are L. Bradley Watson, president of Clarksville Limb + Brace + Rehab, as chairman; Abel Guevara, COO and corporate compliance officer at New Way Medical Supply as vice chairman; David Regier, consultant, as secretary; Cameron Stewart, co-founder of Alcam Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics, treasurer; Diana Klunk, certified mastectomy...

ATLANTA - Wayne van Halem gets contacted “all the time” by companies that are having issues with audits. A common factor? Lead-generating companies, he says. These are companies that are new to the industry and those that are well established, he says. “They will convince people that they can make them a lot of money,” said van Halem, president of The van Halem Group. “They get told, ‘We’ll do all the work and the paperwork, and all you have to do is...

WASHINGTON - The single payment amounts for off-the-shelf knee and back braces under Round 2021 of competitive bidding will be about 30% to 35%, on average, below Medicare's current fee schedule, based on a preliminary analysis by the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association. The reductions aren't necessarily a surprise, stakeholders say, but they have new meaning during a public health emergency. “The COVID environment business conditions are not anything like what they were when bids were...

WASHINGTON - CGS, the DME MAC for jurisdictions B and C, will be conducting complex post-pay reviews for surgical dressings and knee orthoses, according to AAHomecare.CGS will be reviewing A6196 and A6212, and L1833 and L1851. The DME MAC is conducting the reviews due to data analysis that showed “significantly above expected amounts.”Surgical dressings and knee orthoses also ranked No. 5 and No. 9, respectively, in total CERT improper payment rates. The reviews will include only claim...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is seeking nominations for its second annual Certificant of the Year Award. The award distinguishes a professional in good standing in any of BOC's six certification areas (DME specialist, mastectomy fitter, orthotic fitter, orthotist, pedorthist, or prosthetist). Nominees must demonstrate exceptional service to patients, notable achievements in research, commitment to giving back to the community and/or outreach to developing countries...