The Road to Parity - May 2008
Feature
The Road to Parity
By Judith Philipps Otto
ACA Leads the Legislative Battle in Washington DC It seems so ethical, obvious, and appropriate on the face of it; however, most Americans don't realize that prosthetic parity is an issue over which determined players are fiercely battling. As th...
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Making Your Meeting Matter
By Brady Delander
National or local, organizing anO&P association meeting is a challenge, but not aninsurmountable one. An out-of-breath Joann Marx, CPO, FAAOP, juggled a phone callbetween patient visits and a quick bite to eat on a recent Fridayafternoon. "I could...
More...Perspective
Medicare’s Five-Year Rule on Orthoses Is Flawed
By Michael Mangino, CPO, LPO, CPed
On the surface, the five-yearpolicy on the full replacement of most orthotic devicespromulgated by Medicare is clear-cut and understandable to theprofession. What isn't working is Medicare's policy on denying whatit deems similar items months and...
More...Today's Consumer
Michael Johnson Jr.: Becoming a Superhero
By Chelan M. Keeter
A glimpse into overcoming spina bifida. The Hospital When Michael Sr. and his wife Juan were expecting their first child, their unborn son was diagnosed with spina bifida.
More...Stepping Out
An Overview of (Early) Foot Orthotic Biomechanics, Part I
By Séamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed
When I first started in this field well over 12 years ago I found myself in the unenviable position of running a company that had outdated products. The entrepreneurial zeal that my brother and I shared allowed us to become owners of an "arch s...
More...Sports
Veteran’s Winter Sports Clinic; Pistorius’ Appeal Heard
By Brady Delander
Veteran's Winter Sports Clinic Cranks Up the Good Times inSnowmass Joseph Hineman, PhD , has 15 years of experiencecarving up ski slopes. By itself, that's not very big news. But ifyou consider that Hineman is a transfemoral amputee, a veteran of...
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Good News Opens Academy's Annual Meeting
By Brady Delander
Academy President Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP, presents Maurice LeBlanc with the Titus-Ferguson Award. Photograph courtesy of Eric Chen. The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) 34th Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium...
More...Education Outlook
Promoting Our Profession
By Kristin Carnahan
As I think back over my college and professional experiences, I realize that I have always been one to promote and recruit. When I was an undergraduate student I became involved with an organization that worked closely with the dean of my colle...
More...Policy & Practice
Anybody Notice There is a Presidential Election Coming Up?
By John Latsko
Every presidential election year candidates promise to fix all the problems facing the nation. With the economy pointing toward a recession, oil prices higher, housing prices lower, and inflation showing up everywhere, both Democrats and Republica...
More...Face to Face
Five Questions for Angela Montgomery, CPO
Angela Montgomery, CPO, grew up in a smallPennsylvania town that afforded her the opportunity to do a littleof everything. Growing up, she worked on a farm, sang in thechorus, played sports, and performed in the school band. Herpursuit of all thin...
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Billing and Collections Q & A
By Lisa Lake-Salmon
Q: I read in a previous issue of The O&PEDGE that Medicare no longer pays separately for L-3845 andwas wondering if there are other L-Codes in the WHFO(wrist-hand-foot orthosis) category for which it will not payseparately? A: Effective January 1,...
More...Progress on Parity
Victories Fueling the Fight in Congress
By Morgan Sheets
The momentum behind the national parity campaign is growing.Indiana and Vermont have become the ninth and tenth statesrespectively to take a stand and pass prosthetic coveragelegislation. Vermont: Sponsored by Senators Doug Racine andGinny Lyons,...
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Embrace the Impossible
By Karen Henry
At its annual conference lastyear, the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) announcedthat it would be pursuing a national parity bill. "This issomething that everyone says is impossible," Paddy Rossbach, RN,president and CEO of the ACA, said. "Of co...
More...EDGE Direct Sponsored Story
Fabrication Support Has Never Been Easier
While Velocity Labs is known in the industry for its expertisein double-wall socket fabrication and innovative components,Velocity also supplies full and partial fabrication support for avariety of facilities across North America. "Whether you nee...
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Hot Topics
Practitioner Licensing The debate about licensing requirements for prosthetists,orthotists, and pedorthists is heating up with Pennsylvania'sHB-2015 at the center. Some practitioners say this particular bill,introduced in November of 2007, does no...
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