The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) submitted a formal response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding a Request for Information on the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) Initiative.
In addition to contributing to the broader O&P Alliance response, the Academy provided its own comments to ensure the clinical perspective of O&P professionals was clearly represented.
The response reinforced several key priorities:
- The need for stronger collaboration between CMS and the providers delivering patient care
- Ensuring that qualified, credentialed professionals are recognized in policy and reimbursement decisions
- Addressing structural challenges within the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies segment that can contribute to waste, fraud, and abuse
- Protecting access to high-quality, patient-centered O&P care
“As highlighted in our submission, aligning policy with clinical realities is essential to improving outcomes and safeguarding both beneficiaries and program integrity,” the Academy said.
