AOPA Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet Purpose

The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) provides members with resources that ensure high-quality patient care; promotes the education of public policy makers, influencers and third party payers about the critical role played by orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) professionals in delivering care; and protects patients and the profession from threats that would impair delivering quality care.

O&P Professionals serve prosthetic (artificial limbs), orthotic (orthopedic braces) and pedorthic (shoes and shoe inserts) patient needs.

Key Patient Facts

  • In 2011, Medicare approved payment for nearly 2.3 million orthotic codes that accounted for more than $597 million in Medicare expenditures.
  • The orthotic code with the highest Medicare expenditure in 2011 was for a prefabricated lumbar sacral orthosis (LSO) or back brace.  Medicare approved payment for 103 thousand braces for over $94 million.
  • In 2011, Medicare allowed nearly 2.3 million prosthetic services for $756 million in expenditures. 
  • The prosthetic code with the highest Medicare expenditure in 2011 was for a type of lower extremity locking socket insert. Medicare approved payment of more than $56 million for this component.
  • Medicare approved nearly 6.2 million pedorthic codes for $263 million in payments in 2011.
  • The pedorthic code with the highest Medicare expenditure in 2011 was an off-the-shelf diabetic shoe.  Medicare approved payment for 1.8 million shoes for expenditures of $109 million.
  • The risk of losing a foot or leg is 15–40 times higher for people living with diabetes than for those without the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). More than 80,000 diabetes-related lower limb amputations are performed every year in the U.S., the International Diabetes Federation reports. Another 30 thousand limb amputations result annually from Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Industry Facts

  • More than 3,000 patient care facilities provide orthotic and prosthetic services.
  • More than 800 facilities provide pedorthic services.
  • AOPA estimates that the O&P businesses provide patient services worth more than $3.45 billion annually.
  • More than $60 million in government funds has been earmarked for research related to orthotic and prosthetic needs by veterans.

ABOUT AOPA: Founded in 1917, the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA), based in Alexandria, Virginia, is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) businesses and professionals navigate the multitude of issues surrounding the delivery of quality patient care. With nearly 2,000 members, AOPA serves the O&P profession with advocacy on Capitol Hill, premier publications, high-quality coding products, expert reimbursement guidance and a full slate of education programming on O&P-specific issues.

Questions? Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or (571) 431-0835.