Make Your Voice Heard, Get Involved in Your State Association

What is your view of your state’s O&P association? Do you know who serves on the board? Do you know what the association does? If you had asked me these questions three months ago, my answers would have been based off of hearsay rather than the truth. My viewpoint, though, is changing with every conversation that I have with the board and association members. The more that I read legislation on the regulations that will govern the O&P profession in the near future, the more I see and understand the battles that we face, such as the regional care organization concept for payment through state Medicaid agencies, Medicare’s accountable care organizations, and competitive bidding for off-the-shelf orthotics looming. These fights will never be won without the active participation of O&P practitioners.