Hot Off the Press

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  John Michael Retires From NUPOC John W. Michael , MEd, CPO, has retired from the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC). Michael co-directed NUPOC since 2009.
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  NAAOP Highlights Programs to Help Offset COVID-19 The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has released its latest webcast in which Peter W. Thomas, JD, details two new programs designed to help O&P businesses offset the financial burdens brought on the CO...
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  Össur’s College Park Purchase Approved, With Divesture The Federal Trade Commission announced that Össur, Reykjavik, Iceland, won US antitrust approval to buy College Park Industries, Warren, Michigan, on the condition that it sells College Park's prosthetic elbow business. College Park had sales of $...
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  Sound Limbs O&P Hires CPO Sound Limbs Orthotics & Prosthetics , Lewiston, Maine, has hired Gary Steren , CPO, as its new staff prosthetist. Steren has O&P experience spann ing nearly four decades. He has owned and operated his own practices, worked as an independent...
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  WillowWood Furloughs Some Employees WillowWood, Mount Sterling, Ohio, will furlough a significant number of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation improves, WillowWood expects to bring those employees back. WillowWood will also continue to remain focused on pro...
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  Footing Key in Stair Ascent For Those With Chopart Amputation A study published online in Prosthetics and Orthotics International evaluated people with a Chopart amputation utilizing a clamshell device during stair ascent in an effort to identify potential biomechanical deficits. According to the study's aut...
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  CMS Suspends Medical Reviews The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended most Medicare Fee-For-Service medical reviews during the public health emergency period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes pre-payment medical reviews conducted by Medicare Admi...
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  CAF Distributes Record Number of Grants in 2020 The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) announced a record-breaking 3,921 individual grants were awarded to athletes worldwide—making it the largest grant distribution in the organization's 26-year history. Through the 2020 grant distribution, ch...
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  2020 NAAOP Fellowship Postponed Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has postponed its Fellowship program until the summer of 2021. The NAAOP Fellowship selection committee and board previously announced...
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  CMS Postpones O&P Prior Authorization, Makes Policy Changes The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will pause the prior authorization program for the national Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). Prior authorization for six lower-limb prosth...
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  DME MACs, AOPA Clarify Device Replacement Waivers On March 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it was permitting waivers regarding replacement of Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) to help Medicare beneficiaries impacted by the COV...
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  Financial Relief Package Offers Support to O&P The CARES Act, a $2 trillion financial relief package in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the healthcare sector, has been passed by the U.S. Congress. The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) summa...
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  AOPA Advocates in COVID-19 Legislative Efforts The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) said it has been advocating on behalf of its members to ensure that the needs of O&P practitioners, suppliers, and patients are considered when drafting relief legislation in response to the...
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  Performant Suspends New ADRs Performant, the national Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) for Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) claims, announced that it has suspended the issuance of any new Additional Documentation Request (ADR) l...
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  Update: Össur Donating Swabs for COVID-19 Testing Össur, Reykjavik, Iceland, is donating 20,000 testing swabs similar to those used to test for COVID-19 that may be usable for the purpose. The number of coronavirus tests being administered in Iceland has decreased daily between March 18 and Marc...
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  Ability P&O Announces COVID-19 Protocol for PA, MD Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, announced that it will keep its Pennsylvania and Maryland facilities closed, but will remain available by appointment to provide emergent services to patients and hospitals. Pa...
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  Help Available to File O&P COVID-19 Insurance Claims The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has partnered with Miller Friel, a business insurance law firm in Washington DC, to help O&P practices, manufacturers, and suppliers follow a step-by-step approach t...
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  A Step Ahead Offering Remote Patient Care A Step Ahead Prosthetics, with offices in Boston and Hicksville, New York, is offering remote access options for patients unable to travel to the office for prosthetic care. The company's Remote Assistance program is also available to patients of...
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  AOPA Provides COVID-19 Guidance As state and local governments begin to implement restrictions to population interaction in response to COVID-19, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) provided its members with guidance regarding the continued operation of O&P b...
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  Hanger Monitoring COVID-19 Hanger, Austin, Texas, is continuing to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation, specifically, guidance and updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), which will help it develop and imple...
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  Ropp Orthopedic Open During COVID-19 Outbreak Ropp Orthopedic Clinic, Commerce Township, Michigan, announced it is planning to remain open during the COVID-19 outbreak. "I know things have been changing on a day-to-day basis, but we are still open and practicing safe standards with our patien...
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  UCHealth Rehab Clinic Cancels Amputee Support Group Meeting The spread of COVID-19 has severely impacted the way UCHealth Stapleton Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, part of the University of Colorado (UC) School of Medicine and UCHealth has been able to treat its patients . The clinic has cancelled i...
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  Updated: NAAOP Calls for Safety Protocol Guidance for O&P Providers The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) issued an update to its March 19 letter to all state governors, COVID-19 State Task Forces, and health insurance commissioners stating that O&P services are essentia...
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  O&P Company Makes COVID-19 Patient Care Announcement Prosthetic Care Facility of Virginia, Leesburg, announced their plans to serve customers during COVID-19-related closures. The company said that aside from remaining open, owner John Hattingh, CP, LPO, CPO(SA),  will also be available through Face...
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  DMEPOS Replacement Rules Relaxed During COVID-19 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has permitted waivers regarding replacement of Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) to help Medicare beneficiaries impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and quaranti...
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  SBA to Make Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Response to Coronavirus The United Small Business Administration (SBA) will make low-interest working capital loans available to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic under the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. In addition,...
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  Updated: COVID-19 Postponements and Cancellations The following O&P organizations have announced cancellations and/or postponements of events due to the increasing spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
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  Coyote Prosthetics Closing to Quarantine Coyote Prosthetics, Twin Falls, Idaho, announced it will cease operations as of the end of business on Thursday, March 19 through April 6 to allow its patients and staff to quarantine due to the COVID-19 virus. "This decision was made in an effort...
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  Deadline Extended for O&P Research Grant Proposals The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA), working in conjunction with the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice and its board of directors, announced its 2020 Request for Pilot Grant Propos...