ACA and Proposed LCD Draft Policies on Lower Limb Prostheses
This is an open encouragement to the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA),
as the primary organization representing existing and future individuals
with lower limb absences, to review and comment on the potential effects of
the new “Proposed/Draft Local Coverage Determination Draft Policies on Lower
Limb Prostheses (DL33787),†released on July 16th by the four Medicare/CMS
contracted DME MACs, which are currently under consideration for adoption
and could replace current LCD polices.
These Proposed/Draft LCD policies are open for public comment until August
31, 2015, and could have potentially far reaching ramifications on the
provision of lower limb prosthetic care available to current and future
individuals dependent on lower limb prostheses, which will impact their quality
of life, as it relates to their current or potential activities of daily
living.
For this reason, I would encourage the ACA, as well as the individuals
they represent with lower limb prostheses, who are dependent on functioning at
an acceptable level, to proactively review and comment on these
Proposed/Draft LCD policies, along with the national organizations representing the
profession and practitioners seeking to provide appropriate prosthetic care
that is consistent with the potential of an individual’s needs and
abilities.
The ACA can play a significant and impactful role in this process by
assisting individuals utilizing lower limb prostheses in identifying any key
elements of concern that may impact them and possibly be implemented by the
Proposed/Draft LCD policies under consideration.
Qualified Prosthetic Practitioners could also assist the ACA by sharing
information developed by the ACA with their patients, who may not be members
of the ACA or even aware it exists.
This and future health care policies need to involve a united effort by “
everyone†who will be impacted by the Proposed/Draft LCD policies under
consideration. This is especially important given that all private health
insurance carriers utilize Medicare’s HCPCS coding system and their guidelines
for approval and reimbursement. Therefore, the effect of these policies
under consideration are even more far reaching than the impact to Medicare
beneficiaries.
We all need to be proactive and have a voice in our rapidly changing
healthcare environment of today!
John N. Billock, CPO/L, Clinical Director
Orthotics & Prosthetics Rehabilitation Engineering Centre
Warren, Ohio
