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 2016, Medicare approved payment for nearly 3.04 million orthotic codes that accounted for more than $1.0 billion in Medicare expenditures.
- In 2016, Medicare allowed nearly 2.11 million prosthetic services for over $717 million in expenditures.
- Medicare approved nearly 3.9 million diabetic shoe and insert codes for $173 million in payments in 2016
- 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 Another 30 thousand limb amputations result annually from Peripheral Vascular Disease.
- Patients receiving higher technology prosthetic devices have a better quality of life, fewer falls, fewer emergency room visits and other comorbidities than patients limited to less advanced artificial limbs.
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 $3.5 – $4 billion annually
- A recent analysis of Medicare data shows timely O&P patient care saves Medicare $231 million annually compared with costs associated with same diagnosis patients who did not receive O&P services and developed co-morbidities resulting in higher Medicare costs. More details at http://mobilitysaves.org/
- More than $60 million in government funds has been earmarked for research related to orthotic and prosthetic needs by veterans and civilians
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 more than 2,000 member locations, 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 Yelena Mazur or (571) 431-0835.