AOPA Helps Prevent Further Payment Freezes for O&P

AOPA took action on Capitol Hill recently and met with key Senate lawmakers to fight the possibility of a Medicare payment freeze for the O&P field.

A deficit reduction package was in development to reduce Medicare and Medicaid spending by more than $10 billion over five years, and AOPA was extremely concerned O&P would be a prime target.

AOPA staff used facts and figures from an AOPA-funded study to convince lawmakers not to extend the O&P payment freeze for two more years. The study—conducted to support government relations efforts and goals—indicates that population growth is the driving factor behind increased O&P spending.

"There is a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work that takes place to advance good proposals and to fight bad ones," said Walt Gorski, AOPA's director of legislative and regulatory affairs. "The work that AOPA has been doing the past year has hopefully insulated us from the threat of an extended payment freeze.

"Nevertheless, the battle for scarce Medicare dollars is fierce," Gorski continued. "This will be an ongoing battle that will need consistent attention."

Currently, payment cuts and freezes are under consideration on many different levels and in many different industries due to the cost of hurricane recovery efforts and the war in Iraq, among other items.

AOPA recognizes the effects that such freezes have on small- and large-business owners and is monitoring discussions between the key lawmakers from the House and the Senate to protect O&P at every stage of the negotiations.

Do you have questions about the work AOPA does on Capitol Hill on behalf of the O&P field? Contact Walt Gorski at wgorski@AOPAnet.org or (571) 431-0876, ext. 209.