COVER STORY By ADAm STONE
The Path
Forward AOPA leadership, experts share insight on what lies ahead for the industry
H
ave no illusions. As 2014 dawns, the changes sweeping across the health-care landscape will touch every aspect of O&P practice. New regulations, new technologies, the seemingly endless uphill battle for fair and balanced Medicare audits—these and more will be woven into the fabric of O&P care. “In the health-care world of the next few years, patients who do not take the trouble to fully understand what is going on with their care will be left behind—and the same is true for providers,” says AOPA Executive Director Tom Fise. “It is all going to get much more complicated, all in the name of saving money.” Against this backdrop of upheaval, O&P practitioners face special challenges. They must simultaneously address a range of issues surrounding Medicare audits, evolving technologies, reimbursement structures, and a host of other business issues integral to successful practice management and positive patient outcomes. Here we present the top five issues O&P providers will likely face in the coming year.
JANUARY 2014 O&P Almanac
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