As important crucial and timely initiatives are being scheduled to help = encourage proper and qualified O&P services, one has to question why the = Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) has not endorsed a similar position = statement as recently stated below by the National Association For the = Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP).
A formal request for support was presented to the ACA board leadership = this past July by our organization. To date, ACA has refused to take a position on supporting the = qualification language for providers, state regulation efforts of the = profession and other consumer advocacy initiatives presently on the = table that would enhance the chances of receiving proper O&P health care = coverage.
One might ask, WHY?? !!
The qualification requirement of providers to obtain the highest = education and credentials possible is supported by many professionals = and professional organizations (see below) and recognized as the = standard by the American Medical Association.
Why has ACA refused to take a position for the over 2 million amputees = that they allegedly represent in an advocacy role to encourage receiving = qualified and affordable coverage ?
Neither has ACA requested to participate in the Negotiated Rules = Committee Hearings which will develop proposed qualifications and rule = for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. The purpose of the = negotiated rulemaking would be to establish standards for providers = regarding making, fitting and billing Medicare for prosthetics and = certain customized orthotics. The outcome of these hearings would result = in the availability of proper and affordable O&P coverage by Medicare.
ACA, a national consumer organization, that allegedly advocates for the = nations 2 million amputees, has not risen to the accession in supporting = any of these initiatives.
To date, there is not ONE O&P consumer organization of the 15 = recommended participants, that has been identified to participate in the = NRC meetings!
The Barr Foundation has made a formal request to be appointed on the = Negotiated Rule Making committee. We ask for your support by e-mail.telephone or letter to the = coordinator of the initiative:=20
Commissioner Ira B.Lobel
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
1 Clinton Square ,Room 952
Albany ,New York 12207
tele 518-431-0130
e-mail [email protected]
Our organization will continue to support any and all positions and = initiatives that would lead to achieving the highest standards for = professional O&P patient care and affordable quality coverage from = Medicare and private third party payers.
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr=20
> ABC Credentialed O&P Practitioners & Facility Owners:
>=20
> The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & =
Prosthetics
> (NAAOP) is working hard to be the professional trade association
> representing O&P practitioners and facilities concerned with ensuring
> the recognition of appropriate minimum education essentials and =
training
> standards for practitioners providing comprehensive O&P healthcare
>services. =20
> NAAOP was founded on the principle that individuals in need of
> comprehensive O&P services should have the assurance that they are
> receiving the best care available to them and that it is being =
provided
> by appropriately trained and educated O&P practitioners — =
practitioners
> who meet appropriately recognized standards. Also, standards that are
>consistent amongst today’s allied healthcare standards and assure
>appropriate use of available technology. =20
> It is for these reasons, NAAOP strongly supports the O&P Practitioner
> Education Standards of the National Commission on Orthotics and
> Prosthetics (NCOPE), which are approved by the Commission for
> Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and
> represented by the credentialing programs of the American Board for
> Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics.
>=20
> As a national O&P organization, NAAOP is dedicated to pursing
> legislative and regulatory issues which recognize and support these
> standards and the principles they represent. Our leadership is highly
> dedicated to these principles and the belief that they are the most
> appropriate way to assure the quality of O&P care for the disabled
> individuals in need of comprehensive O&P healthcare services.
>=20
> We ask that you first consider supporting NAAOP and our efforts =
through
> membership in our organization if you support these principles. We =
then
> ask that you become an active participant in our efforts to convey =
these
> principles to our legislators and regulatory agencies.
>=20
> The following statements represent the individual ideals and thinking
>=
of
> NAAOP’s leadership regarding the principles we support:
>=20
> “The Orthotist/Prosthetist member of a healthcare delivery team must
>posses a thorough understanding of specific biomedical and technical
>engineering sciences when developing treatment intervention to
>appropriately address the needs of individuals. A minimum amount of
>knowledge and skill are necessary in providing the level of care
>individuals deserve and expect. The CAAHEP standards represent the
>minimum body-of-knowledge an Orthotist/Prosthetist should obtain to
>function as an equally contributing member of the healthcare delivery
>team. It is my pleasure to work closely with NAAOP in advancing the =
O&P
> profession.”
> Michael J. Allen, CPO/L, FAAOP, President
>=20
> “As with any healthcare profession, the quality and outcome of O&P =
care
> is of utmost importance and concern to the individual receiving that
> care. The CAAHEP approved, NCOPE Education Standards for O&P
> practitioners, along with the credentialing standards of the ABC for
> practitioners, represents the most meaningful way of assuring the
> quality and outcome of comprehensive O&P healthcare provided to a
> disabled individual. I am proud of NAAOP’s position of support for =
the
> recognition of these standards and for the opportunity I have had, =
both
> as a practitioner and a consumer of O&P healthcare, to advocate for =
the
> recognition and understanding of these minimum standards for O&P
>practitioners.” John N. Billock, CPO/L, FAAOP, Vice President
>=20
> “NAAOP, in a few short years, has gained considerable respect from
> administration staff and government regulators for its ability to
> articulate issues, educate people to the complexity of those issues, =
and
> clearly show the impact those issues have and will have, on all
> concerned. NAAOP has also made corrective recommendations that =
provide
> benefit to all the interested parties – the patient, provider, and the
>payer. Of most significant importance, NAAOP has stood firmly on the
>issue of qualified O&P providers, advocating for increased quality and
>numbers of practitioners in O&P. It is for these basic reasons I have
>personally and professionally supported the efforts of NAAOP as a
>founding member since 1987” Jan Stokosa, CP, Immediate Past President
>=20
> “NAAOP has consistently supported the highest standards for =
professional
> O&P patient care of any O&P trade association. NAAOP has never opted
> =
to
> lower care standards for political expediency or profit. Rather, =
NAAOP
> consistently advocates for increasing the number and quality of
> certified orthotic and prosthetic professionals available to meet the
> growing needs of aging O&P patients. NAAOP also advocates =
aggressively
> for increased access for professional O&P patient care, especially for
> the most advanced O&P technology that improves function and quality of
> life in all care settings. It is humbling to work with such a =
dedicated
> organization.”
> Mark D. De Harde, Government Relation Co-Chairman
