Busy Summer for NAAOP and O&P Priorities

NAAOP has had a busy summer this year advocating on behalf of the O&P profession, and the patients we serve. Taylor Haines, the 2024 Breece Fellow, has led the way on some key interactions with the O&P field and with policymakers across Washington. Included in Taylor’s fellowship have been field trips to Gainesville, Florida to visit OPIE Software and Gainesville Prosthetics, and to OPGA in Iowa, thanks to both Paul Prusakowski and Adam Miller, respectively. NAAOP hosted a luncheon in mid-June where Taylor met with senior leaders of the major O&P organizations including BOC, ABC, AOPA, the Academy, the Amputee Coalition, and NCOPE. Special thanks to Ann Moss, NAAOP President, for traveling to Washington, DC, to participate in this important learning opportunity and present Taylor with a Fellowship gift, a Mont Blanc pen.

While Taylor will soon complete her Fellowship, NAAOP has a busy month of July ahead where Taylor is actively participating in advocacy activities, including:

NAAOP’s Congressional Fly-In: Set for July 16th , NAAOP will host dozens of virtual meetings with Congressional members and staff to promote support for the O&P Patient-Centered Care Act (H.R. 4315 and S. 3977). Members of NAAOP’s board, membership, and former Breece Fellows will participate in these meetings to continue to build support for passage of this important legislation in the United States House and Senate.

Webinar on Medicare Coverage Developments: On July 23rd , from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, Eastern Time, NAAOP will host a webinar to review significant new coverage, coding, and payment policies issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that apply to Medicare beneficiaries. Don’t miss this review of key developments over the past two years on greater access to advanced O&P care. To register for this complimentary webinar, go to www.naaop.org.

Upper Limb Prosthetic Coding Reform: NAAOP has been working with its O&P Alliance partners and the Upper Limb Society of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) to reform the upper limb prosthetic HCPCS code set to better reflect contemporary prosthetic practice. In March 2023, at the profession’s request, the DME MAC Medical Directors retired upper limb coding guidance that the profession viewed as restrictive. NAAOP, working with the O&P Alliance and a group of upper limb prosthetic experts associated with the Academy’s Upper Limb Society, recently submitted to CMS a coding reform proposal that would better reflect coverage of partial hand and finger prostheses. This is part of a larger strategy to reform coverage, coding and payment in upper limb prosthetics. More to follow as developments occur.

NAAOP thanks its members for supporting our organization for over 37 years. To join NAAOP or to donate to support the George and Dena Breece Fellowship, go to www.naaop.org. Thank you.