The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP) released a new video webcast on December 6 in which NAAOP General Counsel Peter Thomas, JD, provides an analysis of the impacts of the fiscal cliff negotiations and the federal and state essential health benefits packages on O&P, as well as the O&P medical device tax exemption.
Fiscal cliff negotiations: Without a successful Congressional resolution in the fiscal cliff negotiations by January 1, 2013, the Medicare fee schedule will be decreased by 2 percent for all providers, including O&P, according to Thomas.
Essential health benefits: To prevent any “watering down” of O&P coverage, Thomas encourages providers to continue their state advocacy in light of the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to refer many responsibilities in the essential health benefits packages regulations to the state level.
Medical device tax: The Treasury Department has exempted O&P from the 2.3 percent medical device taxes, which Thomas believes will benefit the vast majority of O&P providers and manufacturers.
The webcast is posted on the NAAOP website, is shared with members via e-mail, and made available through the NAAOP page on Facebook.
