Jul 30, 2026
On August 5th, NAAOP will play host to an informational luncheon to discuss Medicare amputee patients' transitions of care. This luncheon meeting was stimulated by the “capstone project” for the 2026 Breece Fellow, Elijah Brummond, and will include sister O&P organizations as well as other stakeholders in the amputee continuum of care. Many non-traditional stakeholders will join the meeting, including representatives from the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Hospital Association, the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Podiatric Medical Association, and many more.
Preliminary research indicates that only 30% of lower limb amputees on Medicare use a prosthetic device (GOA, October 2024). Additionally, 61% of beneficiaries with limb loss die within 4 years of limb loss versus 20% of all traditional Medicare beneficiaries, with reduced physical activity (presumably from a lack of a prosthesis) being associated with worse overall health outcomes (GAO, October 2024). These data points underscore a gap in patient care during transitions from limb amputation and medical rehabilitation to post-acute care and community living. These gaps detract from the patient's ability to return to post-amputation levels of health, function, mobility, and independent living.
NAAOP’s goal with this meeting is to assemble a broad group of experts both inside and outside the O&P profession to educate them on amputee transitions of care, as well as other O&P specific policy issues that may impact each organization’s members. We hope to exchange ideas and socialize O&P policy issues to build a broader base of support for quality O&P care. If the meeting attracts ongoing interest on these issues, our hope is to build lasting partnerships with relevant organizations that will mutually benefit all those involved, and especially patients. This capstone project is an exciting opportunity for Elijah to share the research he has been conducting in addition to providing a prime opportunity to build a wider alliance of interested stakeholders.