Post-NegReg ‘Grassroots’ Group Forms

Although the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, established to
help Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson to
implement the BIPA “qualified provider” provision, failed to reach
consensus, a “post-NegReg” committee has been established,
according to Anthony “Tony” Barr, president of the Barr Foundation.
The committee hopes to develop a unilateral agreement between
O&P associations and disability groups, which would define
“qualified providers” and suppliers, Barr said. The agreement then
would be submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), hopefully by the end of August, he said. “I
personally would be in favor of asking the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Academy of Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation as well as the other Neg Reg committee members
to review this proposal as well to determine their objections,” he
continued.