The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) released a webcast in which Peter Thomas, JD, general counsel for NAAOP, spoke about the upcoming 2023 Breece Fellowship and a proposed regulation that could restrict the definition of orthotics.
NAAOP learned that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expected to issue a proposed regulation in June that will clarify the definition of orthotics under the Medicare program. Because the benefit category has been the subject of requests for coding and coverage of innovative technologies in recent years, NAAOP is “very concerned” that the proposed regulation may seek to limit the definition by restricting coverage of new types of orthoses that apply power across the joint of a limb, among other things.
“If CMS proposes this rule in the manner we expect, and finalizes the rule as written, Medicare beneficiaries may be restricted in their access to this important new generation of orthotic technologies,” Thomas said.
NAAOP plans to closely monitor the regulation and will work with other O&P and rehabilitation partner organizations to oppose the regulation.
Thomas also spoke about application for this summer’s Breece Fellowship and its February 28 deadline.
To watch the NAAOP update, visit its YouTube page.
