Kudos to the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and
Prosthetics ( NAAOP ) and to president Mark DeHarde for the below update AND
statement endorsing and supporting O&P regulation.
Mr.DeHarde’s response to the below question was timely and accurate as are
NAAOP mailings and reporting of government relations activities.
Peter Thomas, whom I respect and have known for quite some time, has done a
outstanding and productive job providing O&P education to Congress.
Besides being a expert in health care issues, Peter is a bilateral amputee
and very much in tune with the delivering the important message to Congress
of the necessary connection of a working patient / qualified provider
relationship.
NAAOP has gone on record of supporting state licensure and has been a
strong, unifying advocate in representing the interests of the O&P patient
and provider /practice causes concerning patient access, funding and
outcomes through leadership in national and state policy formation.
They provide a collective voice of constituents by achieving high quality
patient standards in support of the clinician-patient partnership.
To my knowledge NAAOP has no DME members nor represents DME interests to
further cloud and confuse the message that must be sent to Congress and
health care organizations, that comprehensive ” O&P is not DME “.
NAAOP represents exclusively O&P professionals, manufacturers and causes
concerning patient access..
As a patient advocate, and avid supporter of the O&P profession, I urge
those manufacturers and providers concerned with the direction of your
profession is currently heading, to consider NAAOP as a viable alternative
by reviewing their web site at
http://www.oandp.com/resources/organizations/naaop/ and mission statement,
speak with their directors and members, to better determine if NAAOP
philosophies and goals are more closely aligned to your own..
In my opinion, NAAOP is positioned to better achieve a higher quality of
patient/provider standards and support the much needed national and state
policy reform of O&P.
Those of you looking for a way to support national O&P advocacy, receive
proper reimbursement and achieve a more effective representation of YOUR
profession, should participate and look at the available alternatives… or
don’t complain !
Tony Barr
—–Original Message—–
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Mark Deharde
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] PT’s billing O&P
Mr. Anderson:
Actually, up until July 1, 2005 ANY “supplier” can bill L codes to the
DMERCs as long as they have a valid supplier number.
After July 1, 2005 DME suppliers will be restricted to certain L codes for
most non-custom orthoses. At least temporarily, PTs will still be able to
bill all L codes as they do now and bill the DMERCs if they have a supplier
number.
Regulations are pending at CMS under BIPA 427 and MMA that will be further
refining who can and cannot bill Medicare based on qualifications
(education, training and experience) and facility accreditation. The
organized field of O&P is working to assure that all patients who need
comprehensive O&P services will receive them from qualified orthotists and
prosthetists, not DME and PT.
We respect our PT colleagues to do short term low temperature splinting and
to assist in gait training for patients with orthoses and prosthesis within
their education, training and experience. If they wish to do more, they need
to go back to school for O&P as many of them have.
Please support you national advocacy efforts and get involved on these
important issues and support state licensure as well.
Mark DeHarde
NAAOP
—–Original Message—–
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Sunshineinn
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 1:56 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [OANDP-L] PT’s billing O&P
I’ve been informed that PTs will be able to start billing certain Lcodes
starting next month. Does anyone know the accuracy of that information and,
if so, what codes they will be allowed to bill?
Harold Anderson, CO
—
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Let the Sun Shine Inn B&B
Susan Ten Pas & Harold Anderson
www.sunshine-inn.com
928-445-4464
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