State By State

Become an AOPA State Rep. If you are interested in participating in the AOPA State Reps network, email awhite@AOPAnet.org.

Each month, State by State features news from O&P professionals about the most important state and local issues affecting their businesses and the patients they serve. This section includes information about medical policy updates, fee schedule adjustments, state association announcements, and more.

These reports are accurate at press time, but constantly evolve. For up-to-date information about what is happening in your state, visit the Co-OP at www.AOPAnet.org/ resources/co-op.

AOPA has invested in a new resource that allows us to track legislative and regulatory activity related to O&P in every state. We will be updating the state pages on the AOPA Co-OP with alerts as they arise.

The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics has secured the introduction of state legislation H 3503: “An act relating to the Appropriations Project titled International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics Sustainable Expansion.” AOPA is exploring opportunities for the introduction of similar legislation to support O&P schools across the United States.

More than 275 letters have been sent through AOPA’s advocacy portal in support of O&P providers in New York and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s (D, District 100) sign-on letter seeking a Medicaid fee schedule increase for O&P in the state.

Also in New York, lawmakers recently introduced two pieces of legislation related to O&P. State Sen. Robert G. Ortt (R, District 62) introduced an Insurance Fairness Bill, S 3649. In addition, advocates have introduced a coverage bill for services and devices, including orthoses, for patients diagnosed with lymphedema (S 04867). Both pieces of legislation have companion bills in the Assembly. For timely updates regarding any of these efforts, visit the New York state page on the AOPA Co-OP.

AOPA and staff from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics have been working with the Division of Health Benefits, Pharmacy, & Ancillary Services at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to provide input for a policy review of the North Carolina Medicaid 5B Orthotics and Prosthetics Policy. O&P providers in North Carolina should expect a new policy to be published in the coming months.

Legislation has been introduced, in accordance with the provisions in Oklahoma’s Sunset Law, that would recreate the Advisory Committee on Orthotics and Prosthetics under the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. The proposed legislation includes details on the number of voting members and the duties of the committee. For additional information, visit the Oklahoma page of the AOPA Co-OP.

Submit Your State News To submit an update for publication in the State by State department of O&P Almanac, email awhite@AOPAnet.org.