Tag: prosthetics

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...

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....

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...

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...

WASHINGTON - A bill that seeks to differentiate orthotics and prosthetics from durable medical equipment was recently introduced in the Senate.The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act (S. 4503), sponsored by Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., is a companion bill to H.R. 5262, introduced in November by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif..The bill has four key provisions:Create separate statutory...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), is seeking nominations for the Jim Newberry Award for Extraordinary Service. Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes outstanding individuals for their services to BOC. Nominees for the award must have a proven history of service and volunteerism with BOC, and might include—but are not limited to—certificants, vendors, consultants, business partners or former BOC board members. The award is named after James Newberry,...

ATLANTA - CMS plans to update the Federal Register today to add certain L codes to the prior authorization list for DMEPOS, according to the van Halem Group.CMS will add the following codes to the list of items that require prior authorization as a condition of payment:L5856 - (Addition to lower extremity prosthesis, endoskeletal knee-shin system, microprocessor control feature, swing and stance phase, includes electronic sensor(s), any type)L5857  - (Addition to lower extremity prosthesis,...

ATLANTA - Amoena has launched its Balance portfolio, a line of premium prosthetic breast shapers to help survivors restore their body symmetry after treatment. The line includes a range of shapes, sizes, weights and thicknesses, made of high-quality silicone. Unlike a full prosthetic, the shapers can compensate for missing tissue. “Amoena's mission is to be? a trusted partner in supporting women's confidence, and we understand that breast asymmetry can impact a woman's self-esteem,” said...

WASHINGTON - The DME MACs are retiring the “Dear Physician” letter for artificial limbs, according to a bulletin from the American Orthotics & Prosthetics Association. The letter is being retired following recently passed legislation that requires the recognition of the prosthetists' notes as part of the patient's medical record. The letter, originally published in 2011, dramatically changed the standards for approving a prosthetic claim by disregarding the prosthetist's notes as part...