News

Bureau of Labor and Statistics Releases CPI-U Update

On July 15, 2016, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) released its latest update on the Consumer Pricing Index for Urban Areas (CPI-U).  From June 2015 through June 2016 the CPI-U increased by 1.0%.  This figure is relevant to O&P providers because it is used as the base for determining the adjustment for the […]

AOPA Offers 2 RAC Audit Webinars

AOPA has recently received reports of increased RAC activity (details here) and has scheduled several educational webinars to help you prepare. The first webinar will cover the basics of what the renewed RAC audits mean for O&P providers and how to be prepared to respond to an audit request when it is received. The second webinar […]

Submit Comments on Proposed Assistive Technology Standards

AOPA members should be aware of proposed education standards by the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) that could potentially encroach on the O&P profession. AOPA encourages members to make public comments about a proposed set of Assistive Technology education standards that are currently being advanced by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North American (RESNA). The […]

Senate Appropriations Committee Report Incorporates Recommendations to CMS on Draft LCD

As a result of the series of meetings during the Policy Forum involving Senator Kerrey and top members of the Senate and the Finance Committee, and particularly through AOPA Past President Tom Watson’s intercession with Senate Majority Leader McConnell, important language relating to the July 2015 draft LCD was inserted into the Committee report which […]

AOPA Updates its Joint Statement on Physical Characteristics of Orthopedic Shoe Inserts

In 2013, AOPA, in conjunction with the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and the Pedorthic Footcare Association (PFA), developed a joint statement on the interpretation of HCPCS codes L3000, L3010, L3020, and L3030.  The joint statement was presented to AOPA leadership at the time and was approved for publication.  On May 13, 2016 a follow […]

The 2016 AOPA National Assembly Preliminary Program is Available Now

Check out the exciting program for the country’s oldest and largest meeting for the orthotic, prosthetic and pedorthic profession. Peruse the offerings from the five unique concurrent sessions for Orthotists, Prosthetists, Pedorthists, Technicians, Business Owners and Managers. We can’t wait to see you in Boston!

Renewed RAC Activity Reported

AOPA has recently received reports of increased Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) activity focusing on the provision of ankle foot orthoses, especially in Jurisdiction A and Jurisdiction D. While the existing RAC contractors have been authorized to begin new audits for some time now, pending the competition for and award of the single, national DMEPOS RAC […]

The FDA and 3-D Printing: What Potential Regulatory Action Means for O&P

On May 10, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a document entitled, Technical Considerations for Additive Manufactured Devices: Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.  The publication of this document marks the first foray of the FDA into potential regulation of devices that use additive manufacturing as a means of […]

Jurisdiction D DME MAC Publishes Results of Pre-Payment Review of Ankle Foot Orthoses, Knee Orthoses, and Spinal Orthoses

Noridian, who serves as the Jurisdiction D Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC), has released the most recent quarterly results of its ongoing pre-payment review of claims for several codes. For AFOs described by HCPCS codes L1960, L1970 and L4360: from December 2015 through March 2016, a total of 1008 claims were reviewed; […]