March 2010 O&P Almanac

Almanac OP The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association

MARCH 2010

&

WWW.AOPANET.ORG

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS INDUSTRY

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EASY TIPS FOR BETTER DOCUMENTATION UNDERSTANDING THE RED FLAGS RULES

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O&P Almanac MARCH 2010, VOLUME 59, NO. 3

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COVER STORY

Educating the Next O&P Generation

By Anya Martin As a generation of O&P professionals retires, some are passing along their institutional knowledge to the next cohort through extended residencies and more. Plus, an update on the state of O&P educational standards, including collegiate programs.

COLUMNS

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Ask the Expert Tips for complying with the Red Flags Rules

AOPA Contact Page How to reach staff

In the News Updates and company announcements

AOPA Headlines News about AOPA initiatives, meetings, member benefits, and more

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AOPA Membership Applications

Stop Documentation Dread

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By Scott Briscoe Documentation work isn’t an exciting or a favorite task among practitioners, but it’s vital to ensuring proper reimbursements, avoiding law suits, and improving office efficiency. Experts share their tips for easing the burden.

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NEW!

Decrease your chances of a RAC audit

DEPARTMENTS

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Reimbursement Page

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FEATURE STORY

CONTENTS

Visit O&P Almanac online at www.AOPAnet.org.

Marketplace Products and services for O&P

Jobs Opportunities for O&P professionals

Calendar

Upcoming meetings and events

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Ad Index

O&P Almanac (ISSN: 1061-4621) is published monthly by the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314; 571/431-0876; fax 571/4310899; e-mail: almanac@AOPAnet.org. Yearly subscription rates: $59 domestic; $99 foreign. All foreign subscriptions must be prepaid in U.S. currency, and payment should come from a U.S. affiliate bank. A $35 processing fee must be added for non-affiliate bank checks. O&P Almanac does not issue refunds. Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: O&P Almanac, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. For advertising information, contact Dean Mather, M.J. Mrvica Associates Inc. at 856/768-9360, e-mail: dmather@mrvica.com.

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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AOPA CONTACT INFORMATION AMERICAN ORTHOTIC & PROSTHETIC ASSOCIATION (AOPA) 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314 AOPA Main Number: 571/431-0876 AOPA Fax: 571/431-0899 www.AOPAnet.org EXECUTIVE OFFICES

MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS

Thomas F. Fise, JD, executive director, 571/431-0802, tfise@AOPAnet.org

Tina Moran, CMP, senior director of membership operations and meetings, 571/431-0808, tmoran@AOPAnet.org

Don DeBolt, chief operating officer, 571/431-0814, ddebolt@AOPAnet.org O&P ALMANAC Thomas F. Fise, JD, publisher, 571/431-0802, tfise@AOPAnet.org Josephine Rossi, editor, 703/914-9200 ext. 26, jrossi@strattonpublishing.com

Kelly O’Neill, manager of membership and meetings, 571/431-0852, koneill@AOPAnet.org Steven Rybicki, communications manager, 571/431-0835, srybicki@AOPAnet.org Michael Chapman, coordinator, membership operations and meetings, 571/431-0843, mchapman@AOPAnet.org

OP Almanac &

PUBLISHER Thomas F. Fise, JD EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc. ADVERTISING SALES M.J. Mrvica Associates Inc. DESIGN & PRODUCTION Marinoff Design, LLC PRINTING United Litho Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS President James A. Kaiser, CP, Scheck & Siress, Chicago, IL President-Elect Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP, Dynamic O&P, LLC, Houston, TX

Catherine Marinoff, art director, 786/293-1577, catherine@marinoffdesign.com

Erin Kennedy, office, meetings administrator, and associate editor, AOPA in Advance, 571/431-0834, ekennedy@AOPAnet.org

Dean Mather, advertising sales representative, 856/768-9360, dmather@mrvica.com

AOPA Bookstore: 571/431-0865

Steven Rybicki, production manager, 571/431-0835, srybicki@AOPAnet.org

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Immediate Past President Brian L. Gustin, CP, BridgePoint Medical Inc., Suamico, WI

Kathy Dodson, senior director of government affairs, 571/431-0810, kdodson@AOPAnet.org

Executive Director/Secretary Thomas F. Fise, JD, AOPA, Alexandria, VA

NEW!

Erin Kennedy, staff writer, 571/431-0834, ekennedy@AOPAnet.org

Visit O&P Almanac online at www.AOPAnet.org.

Devon Bernard, reimbursement services coordinator, 571/431-0854, dbernard@AOPAnet.org Joe McTernan, director of reimbursement services, 571/431-0811, jmcternan@AOPAnet.org Reimbursement/Coding: 571/431-0833, www.LCodeSearch.com a

Vice President Bert Harman, Otto Bock Health Care, Minneapolis, MN Treasurer James Weber, MBA, Prosthetic & Orthotic Care, Inc., St. Louis, MO

DIRECTORS Kel M. Bergmann, CPO, SCOPe Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc., San Diego, CA Rick Fleetwood, MPA, Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory, Little Rock, AR Russell J. Hornfisher, Becker Orthopedic Appliance Co., Troy, MI Alfred E. Kritter, Jr., CPO, FAAOP, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc., Savannah, GA Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA, University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center, Ann Arbor, MI Mahesh Mansukhani, MBA Ossur Americas, Aliso Viejo, CA

2010 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Rick Bowers Amputee Coalition of America

Joel J. Kempfer, CP, FAAOP Kempfer Prosthetics Orthotics Inc.

Rick Fleetwood Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory

Tabi King Ossur North America

Steve Hill, CO Delphi Ortho

Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center

Russell J. Hornfisher Becker Orthopedic Appliance Co. Fran Varner Jenkins Fillauer Companies Inc.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

David Rotter, CO, CP, LO, LP, L.Ped Scheck and Siress Gary Steren, CPO Cornell Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc.

John H. Reynolds, CPO, FAAOP, Reynolds Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc., Maryville, TN Lisa Schoonmaker, CPO, FAAOP, Tandem Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., Sartell, MN Frank Vero, CPO, Mid-Florida Prosthetics & Orthotics, Ocala, FL Copyright 2010 American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association. All rights reserved. This publication may not be copied in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the official views of AOPA, nor does the association necessarily endorse products shown in the Almanac. The Almanac is not responsible for returning any unsolicited materials. All letters, press releases, announcements, and articles submitted to the Almanac may be edited for space and content. The magazine is meant to provide accurate, authoritative information about the subject matter covered. It is provided and disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice and/or expert assistance is required, a competent professional should be consulted.

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In the News Scientists Report Modest Regeneration Advances

Soldiers Test Improved Microprocessor Knee

X2

Designed specifically for military amputees, the new X2 microprocessor knee promises greater durability and functionality. Developed by Otto Bock HealthCare with support from the Military Amputee Research Program, the device is now being tested at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Centers. Thirty wounded soldiers have been fit, or soon will be, with the X2, according to the U.S. Army’s Web site.

While many C-leg users experience joint pain, primarily in their knees and hips, amputees wearing the X2 do not seem to suffer these side effects. Users have been able to run and walk, both backward and forward, and climb stairs. Previously, amputees would have to switch to a different leg prosthesis for running.

The X2 has a longer battery life than the C-leg, remote control functions, and the ability to handle more weight. One X2 user remarked that he could stand in any position and rest on his prosthesis, giving his intact side a rest.

The X2 is expected to be made available to the general public in 2011. For more information, visit www.army.mil.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

Scientists from at At the Univerleast two universities are sity of Pittsburgh’s conducting research into McGowan Institute the possibility of human for Regenerative regeneration of missing Medicine, Dr. Stephen limbs, but stress that The axolotl, a mexican salamander. Badylak, director of the reality of using this tissue engineering, approach is still decades away. says the regeneration of limbs may Biologist David Stocum and his one day be possible, but not for many team at the Center for Regenerayears. In the meantime, he and his tive Biology at Indiana University in team are focusing on smaller, more Bloomington are currently studying achievable regeneration projects. the axolotl, a Mexican salamander, to They are currently working with learn about its ability to regenerate the U.S. Department of Defense to entire limbs lost to injury. Stocum and develop scar-free wound healing for his team also have been studying the soldiers. Badylak also points to progcommon frog to learn why and how it ress on regrowing body parts with has strong powers of regeneration as a simpler structures, such as a kidney tadpole but not as a mature frog. or heart muscle.

TRANSITIONS

BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS

Mica Corp., of Kelso, Washington, is now exporting its Genesis II prosthetic feet to China where they will be distributed by USA YOBAND.

Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere). They also have made a cash donation of $25,000, which was divided between the two organizations. Additionally, any of Hanger’s 670+ patient-care centers is accepting used limb donations for shipment to Haiti.

HAITI RELIEF Dr. Comfort is working with the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission (NWHCM) to donate more than $1 million in shoes and inserts to earthquake survivors. NWHCM is assisting Dr. Comfort in getting the shoes to Haiti and distributing them.

Hanger Orthopedic Group has donated $225,000 in orthopedic devices, including neck and back braces, limb immobilizers, fracture boots, wrist splints, and cervical collars to Physicians for Peace and

Ossur is contributing orthopedic products to those in need as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. Ossur also is coordinating its product donations through Project Medishare (www. projectmedishare.org) and AOPA. Tamarack Habilitation Technologies Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, has made generous contributions to both the Red Cross and Healing Hands for Haiti (HHH) and has matched their employees’ contributions to HHH by 2 to 1.

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In the News

The American Association of Orthotic Fitters (AAOF) is a new professional association open to all ABC- and BOC-certified orthotic fitters. All certified fitters are invited to join the organization at no charge throughout 2010. Starting in 2011, it’s anticipated that annual dues will be $150 per member.

The AAOF will not be a certifying body; fitters will still need to earn certification through the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics or the Board of Certification/ Accreditation International. AAOF will offer continuing education courses and is committed to having them approved

by ABC and BOC. The new association also plans to offer members up to six free home-study continuing education credits per year.

AAOF plans to offer an orthotic fitter course that exceeds all requirements of the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). It also plans to include fracture management to prepare graduates for employment in the 10,000+ orthopedic surgeon offices across the United States. The AAOF is committed to expanding the scope of practice for orthotic fitters to include fracture management under the supervision of an orthopedic surgeon.

The organization’s Web site, aaofusa.org, will promote networking by orthotic fitters, and feature a video forum where members can download and upload videos about orthotic fitting.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

“touch” has been developed by Kinea Design, LLC, Evanston, Illinois, as part of the Revolutionizing Prosthetics (RP) 2009 project of the Defense Advance Research Project Agency (DARPA). The sensor provides the user with extensive sensory information, including temperature, texture, pressure, and friction.

Kinea Design also created a modular finger system with three articulated joints driven by a single motor and a palm module. The artificial finger is able to curl in a natural motion and grip an object. The palm module serves as the principal electromechanical interface for the fingers and wrist, as well as the enclosure for the device’s electronic components, designed by Kinea and other RP 2009 collaborators.

The DARPA team, led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, is developing a sophisticated electromechanical prosthesis that mimics the sensory-motor capabilities of a natural hand and arm. The device features more than 80 sensors and up to 13 different kinds of motion for the

TRANSITIONS

Photo: www.kineadesign.com

DARPA 2009 Features New Association Prosthetics with Serves Orthotic Sense of Touch A fingertip sensor that enables an Fitters arm amputee to experience a sense of

hand alone. It will provide amputees with greater functionality and intuitive, thought-controlled movement of the artificial limb, driven by implanted and neutrally integrated electrodes or by electromyography electrodes.

These developments follow recent news about the SmartHand, a device developed by European and Israeli scientists that offers individually articulating fingers and restores a sense of touch to users. (See January 2010 O&P Almanac.)

RP 2009 innovations are profiled in an article on bionics in the January 2010 issue of National Geographic.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Louis Brossard has been named the new director of sales for PEL Supply Co. in Cleveland. Brossard has more than 17 years of experience in the plastics industry, most recently with ThyssenKrupp AIN Plastics, and has worked with PEL for several years.

Tiffany Sparacino has joined Euro International as an account manager for prosthetics, orthotics, and sports medicine customers. She is a graduate of Penn State University and has previous experience working in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

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By Joseph McTernan, AOPA government affairs department

New Audits Target Medicare Providers RACs have the power—and incentive— to review for overpayments

T

he world of the O&P Medicare provider is already a complex one, with more than 800 L codes, several dozen modifiers, and half a dozen medical policies to monitor at any given time. The last thing anyone needs is another administrative hurdle—especially one with proverbial “teeth” if you’re found in violation.

Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audits have arrived, and they mean business. RACs exist for one reason only: To seek out questionable Medicare payments made in the past and recoup as much money as possible

RACs JURISDICTION A: Diversified Collection Services www.dcsrac.com info@dcsrac.com 866/201-0580

JURISDICTION B: CGI http://racb.cgi.com racb@cgi.com 877/316-7222

JURISDICTION C:

Connolly Inc. www.connollyhealthcare.com/RAC RACinfo@connollyhealthcare.com 866/360-2507

JURISDICTION D:

HealthDataInsights http://racinfo.healthdatainsights.com racinfo@emailhdi.com Part A: 866/590-5598 Part B: 866/376-2319 12

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

for the Medicare program. In fact, as an incentive, Medicare pays companies that perform RAC functions on a contingency basis. This means that most of their payment is based on a percentage of what they identify as a potential overpayment and how much they can recover.

We will discuss possible RAC defense strategies later in this article, but first, here’s more about what the RACs are and how this process started.

Humble Beginnings The legislative foundation for the RACs was established in section 306 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. This law, which also established prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, mandated a demonstration project to determine if recovery audits were a viable option for protecting Medicare from improper claim payments.

The demonstration project began in 2005 and was conducted in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, South Carolina, and California. The demonstration project officially ended on March 27, 2008. In July 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final report on the RAC demonstration project. It was deemed a tremendous success as almost $700 million were returned to the Medicare trust fund as a result of overpayments discovered during the three-year demonstration. Prior to the release of the 2008 report, Congress authorized the expansion of the RAC program to a permanent, national status. This expansion was included in section 302 of the

Medicare Providers Tax Relief and Healthcare Act of 2006, which required the expansion of the RACs to a national level no later than 2010.

RACs and Their Role With the expansion of the program, CMS selected four insurance companies to serve as the RACs. Each of these four companies is responsible for RAC functions within jurisdictions equivalent to the current Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC). The contractor chosen for each jurisdiction is as follows: • Jurisdiction A: Diversified Collection Services (DCS) • Jurisdiction B: CGI • Jurisdiction C: Connolly Inc. • Jurisdiction D: HealthDataInsights Inc.

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The four RACs are authorized to hire subcontractors to perform some of the RAC responsibilities, but the four primary RACs have ultimate responsibility for the correct performance of their responsibilities.

As mentioned earlier, the RACs are paid on a contingency basis, which means they receive a percentage of the dollars they identify as overpayments or underpayments. Unfortunately, only about 4 percent of the claims dollars identified by the RACs represents underpayments, while the other 96 percent represents Medicare overpayments. These odds do not work in a provider’s favor so I would not expect RACs to be searching very hard for Medicare underpayments.

Currently, RACs can only review claims that were paid on or after Oct. 1, 2007.

When the RAC demonstration project was initially proposed, provider groups argued that these audits would create an undue hardship on Medicare providers. In order to address some of these concerns, CMS placed limits on the RACs, and published its three “keys to success” for the RAC program: • minimize provider burden • ensure accuracy • maximize transparency.

In an effort to minimize the potential burden on providers, CMS has limited the RACs to a “look back” period of three years. Currently, RACs can only review claims that were paid on or after Oct. 1, 2007. In addition to the time restrictions, the RACs also have frequency restrictions. For DMEPOS providers, the RACs may only review a maximum of 1 percent of the average monthly Medicare claim lines (maximum of 200) per NPI per 14

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

45 days. This means that for every 45-day period, the RAC may review a maximum of 200 individual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes billed for each of your locations.

In order to ensure accuracy by the RACs, CMS requires that each RAC must employ nurses, therapists, certified coders, and a physician medical director. A separate contractor called the RAC validation contractor also is included to monitor RAC activities and provide annual accuracy scores for each of the RACs. Finally, if a recovery is overturned at any level of appeal, the RAC must return any contingency fees related to the overturned claim.

To maximize transparency, RACs are required to regularly publish areas of vulnerability on their Web sites as well as provide detailed letters to providers explaining the specific reason why they believe the codes in question were paid improperly.

Audit Process RAC audits are performed when CMS identifies a specific area where claim analysis has shown a history of improper billing by providers. These targeted issues are forwarded to the RACs who perform post-payment reviews on claims containing the specific codes in question or involving the specific issues identified by CMS. For example, CMS has identified the billing of L5671 when providing a suction socket system as an improper billing practice. The logic behind

this decision is that L5647 and L5652 describe the process of modifying the prosthetic socket to include a one-way valve that creates suction between the residual limb and the socket. This suction acts as the primary means of suspension of the artificial limb.

L5671 describes a mechanical locking mechanism that is used to hold the residual limb firmly in the prosthetic socket. Medicare identified a pattern of providers coding both L5647/L5652 and L5671 to describe suction-based suspension systems. This issue has been forwarded to the RAC contractors with specific instructions to perform post-payment review audits on claims containing both L5647/L5652 and L5671.

Another area identified by CMS is the improper use of certain addition codes with initial or preparatory prosthetic base codes. Medicare’s Lower Limb Prosthetic Policy specifically excludes several addition codes from use with these base codes. While edits should be already in place to prevent Medicare payment of these addition codes, many times the codes are paid improperly. CMS has tasked the RACs with post-payment review of claims for initial or preparatory prostheses to determine if any addition codes were paid improperly.

RAC audits are limited to only those issues that CMS has identified as problem areas. Unfortunately for providers, if the mistake is made once, it is often repeated, resulting in a large recovery effort by the RAC.

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Two general types of RAC audits are conducted: • Automated reviews involve clearly defined Medicare rules and regulations. Claims are processed using system edits to identify potential incorrect payments. Payments that are identified as improper are communicated to the provider through an overpayment demand letter. If there is no response to the demand letter, the overpayment will be automatically recouped from the provider’s future payments. A good example of an automated RAC review involves the specific HCPCS codes that policy clearly states may not be billed with initial or preparatory prosthetic base codes. In this instance, published policy states the codes may not be billed together.

The RAC audits will be performed by using system edits to identify when a prohibited code has been billed, and an overpayment letter will be automatically generated by the RAC. • Complex reviews require the expertise of a trained professional to determine if the claim was paid improperly. These reviews often involve interpretation of medical necessity and usually require direct communication between the RAC and the provider. Complex reviews usually begin with a request for additional information from the RAC. The RAC then uses the 16

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

information provided to make an individual determination of the medical necessity of the item or device in question.

The first sign of a probable RAC audit will be a Medicare remittance notice containing denials on previously paid claims.

RAC Audit Responses Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to determine if you are subject to a RAC audit until the audit is already in process. The first sign of a probable RAC audit will be a Medicare remittance notice containing denials on previously paid claims.

These claims will include a remittance advice code of N432, signaling that the denial is related to a RAC audit. The Medicare remittance notice will be followed by an overpayment demand letter. This is when you need to decide whether to dispute the RAC findings or to accept them.

If you accept the RAC findings, you must return any overpayment

identified by the RAC. Information on where to send the overpayment is usually included in the body of the overpayment letter. Failure to return the overpayment will result in money being recouped from future Medicare payments.

If you disagree with the RAC findings, there are two separate ways to argue your case. A “discussion period” enables you to discuss the specifics of the RAC findings directly with the RAC contractor. This is a good opportunity to develop a working relationship directly with the RAC. The discussion period begins with the initial indication that an overpayment has been identified and ends once the overpayment has been recouped. The second process is the appeal process, which is identical to the appeals process for claims denied prior to payment being made. It is important to remember that while the discussion period may extend into several levels of the appeals process, the time limits on filing additional appeals remain intact.

If you believe that a RAC determination was in error, you should first try to resolve the situation by talking to the RAC contractor. If this is unsuccessful, you should follow the standard levels of appeal from redetermination through to the administrative law judge.

The best way to avoid RAC audits is to educate yourself about the issues the RACs are focusing on as well as familiarize yourself and your staff with the medical policies that govern Medicare coverage of O&P devices. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to dealing with RAC audits. The more you know, the less trouble you will have dealing with this new player on the Medicare scene. a Joe McTernan is AOPA’s director of reimbursement services. Reach him at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

BY ANYA MARTIN

Educating THE NEXT

O&P GENERATION Higher education collaborates with practitioners to offer students classroom lessons, hands-on learning, and decades of experience

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alarie O’Brien has learned lots of technical skills in class at J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics at St. Petersburg College in Florida. But it was required clinical rotations that taught her how to apply that classroom training in a real-world practice setting. For example, at Tampa-based Copeland Prosthetics and Research, she heard a woman with hip disarticulation talk about her discomfort while sitting without her prosthesis and watched practice owner Bill Copeland, CP, LP, FAAOP, help her find a solution.

“I’d learned in school that a leg length discrepancy can cause back pain and scoliosis, but when I saw her in person, it really hit home how that affects a patient,” says O’Brien, a college senior who will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in O&P this spring. Copeland provided the patient with a device that allows the woman to sit and remain level, making her much more comfortable, and also adjusted her prosthesis to allow for some shrinkage.

While it takes extra time to educate

students and perform his job, Copeland, 54, who has been in prosthetics for 30 years and is an amputee himself, sees shepherding students in their clinical rotations as a way to give back to the profession. A now-retired prosthetist took Copeland under his wing at the start of his career, and he even has employed one J.E. Hanger O&P Program graduate who first came to his practice as a resident.

“It’s very important to have a mentor in this field,” Copeland says. “Anyone can read the books; we all have access to them, but [my mentor] is the reason why I have the business I have here which sees patients from all over the United States and the world.”

As the baby boomer generation retires, many in O&P are concerned about how their decades of institutional knowledge will be passed on to the next generation of practitioners. The good news is that academic institutions and practitioners are looking for creative ways to meet the challenge and afford students the maximum opportunity to access this wealth of experience.

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

19

Bringing Clinicians and Students Together

Capturing the seasoned experience of practitioners in the boomer generation and translating that to young incoming practitioners should be a priority for the fields of orthotics and prosthetics, says Gary Bedard, clinical application liaison for Troy, Michiganbased Becker Orthopedic. Bedard has developed and regularly teaches a one- to three-day course on lower extremity orthotics at eight of the nine college and university O&P programs accredited by National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and one Canadian program.

tional institution, collaboration between schools and practitioners has improved. Bedard also encourages practitioners to proactively contact schools if they have something to offer. The Becker-sponsored course started in the early 1990s when Bedard convinced President Rudy Becker to allow him to adapt a workshop for practitioners into a student course. He says the course gives students not only access to his experience but also the chance to perform a realistic fabrication exercise using leading-edge orthotic technology.

Now, Bedard is working with The Newington Program at the University of Hartford, Connecticut, and Northwestern University’s ProstheticOrthotic Center in Chicago to offer the

“I think it’s one of the shortcomings we have in this field that we do have this boomer generation of practitioners who have decades of experience, but their practices might be so small or they may be so involved in their practice that they see an infrequent or no need to run a residency,” Bedard says. “It’s difficult for any practice to have a permanent residency program, though. You have to look at return on investment and ask what the incentive is to have that constant residency rotation, unless you are trying to match a phenomenal amount of practice growth.”

While many practitioners do not have a relationship with an educa-

didactic section of the course on DVD so that students can review the material in advance and devote workshop time to hands-on learning. Becker also offers a similar course to students taught by another employee that focuses on the SpineCor brace system to correct idiopathic scoliosis.

The O&P program at the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in Seattle often invites local and national practitioners as guest lecturers to share their areas of expertise, says Ann Yamane, M.Ed., CO/LO, head of that institution’s Prosthetics-Orthotics Division. “We have some practioners who have come

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

to guest lecture for years and have been very supportive of our program,” she adds.

The same holds true at the J.E. Hanger Program, which also allows all students and staff free attendance at any continuing education programs offered to practitioners on campus. The school actively seeks the “best of the best” in instructors both locally and from around the nation to enhance curriculum for classes, says Arlene Gillis, LPO, CP, director of clinical education.

For example, to set up its GAITRite lab, the school is working with local practitioners, such as Copeland, to enable students to compare evaluations of prosthetic leg alignment using traditional methods versus the state-of-the-art Compas computerized prosthesis alignment system, which uses a software program to embed electronic hardware into the prosthesis. Copeland, who already serves as an adjunct instructor in the transtibial class, will tell students how he uses traditional alignment systems in his office and bring in patients willing to model both methods.

The Prosthetics-Orthotics Program at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas has local practitioners on its advisory committee, including those who accept students for clinical rotations, says Susan Kapp, M.Ed., CPO, LPO, associate professor and director of the program. Students also benefit from professors who are practicing clinicians in a faculty-based clinic. Most have more than 20 years of experience, she adds.

“We all were clinicians first and became health educators second,” Kapp says. “We also bring in speakers from the community. Students are not learning in a vacuum and get broad exposure to people with a variety of experiences.”

First Forays into the Field While O&P graduates ultimately must complete a one-year residency in orthotics and a one-year residency in prosthetics, they receive their first on-site practice experience observing and learning directly from providers

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during the 500 hours of would be like to work in a clinical rotations (250 for range of settings, she says. orthotics and prosthetics “In private practice, respectively) required by things can be a bit more laid the NCOPE. Traditionally, back and there’s a whole lot many schools have set up more patient interaction. At these clinic hours to be one a large corporation, you still day weekly per quarter or get good interaction with a semester, but a number of patient but there’s more presinstitutions are now offering sure to move things along,” the opportunity for students O’Brien says. “Shriners is a to perform at least some of nonprofit so you don’t have those hours in longer consecto worry about the money utive periods. aspect as much. But there you The clinical rotations see a wide variety of patients during the program at you might not see normally.”

University of Washington O’Brien adds that she also afford students the opportusees how practitioners deal nity to learn from a variety with money matters such of providers from different as deciding on alternatives sizes and types of pracwhen a patient cannot afford tices, Yamane says. Thirteen the best solution because an Seattle-area practices particiinsurer either does not cover “I think it’s one of the pate as clinical rotation sites, it or the policy comes with a and students have clinical high out-of-pocket deductible. shortcomings we have in this rotations over five quarters The most important with an optional two-week message Copeland tries to field. We have this boomer interim rotation. The latter teach students is that techoffers students the opportunical skills are important but generation of practitioners who nity to develop a relationship not as critical as the commithave decades of experience, but with the preceptor faster than ment to find the best solution when they rotate one day a for a patient’s unique needs. their practices might be so small week, and they can observe “I try to tell them the money the patient-care process in will come if you’re good, but or they may be so involved that more detail as well as the take care of people and do functioning of the clinic over the right thing,” he says. they see an infrequent or no the entire week, she adds.

Teaching has made him “This [also] allows better at his job, too, Copeneed to run a residency.” students to go outside of land believes. “It makes you ––Gary Bedard, Becker Orthopedic our area and even across look deep down to what you the country,” Yamane notes. know. It tunes you up and “Being able to get out of the makes you a more fine-tuned area and experience a totally tion, which students do not have to running machine.” different practice has been exciting for complete locally, Kapp adds.

them.”

In addition to participating in CopeBusiness Side of Learning The J.E. Hanger O&P Program is land’s small but internationally known AOPA also has been taking a lead fortunate to have a very large clinical practice, O’Brien has shadowed O&P in developing programs that educate base of practices in Florida willing to practitioners at Shriners Hospitals for students on how to run a practice. A take students in clinical rotations and Children in Tampa and at a patient December 2007 AOPA survey identihas incorporated a three-to-four week evaluation clinic run by the large fied 11 strategic initiatives important summer session into the program so national firm Hanger Prosthetics & to members, and one was a focus on students can “follow a patient through Orthotics in New Port Richey, Florida. education. Over the past year, Russell the continuum of care,” Gillis says.

The format has not just given her expoJ. Hornfisher, director of sales for When UT Southwestern launches its sure to multiple mentors with different Becker Orthopedic and an AOPA board master’s program in summer 2010, work styles and experiences, but also member, has led the effort to form a it will incorporate a one-month rotaallowed her to see firsthand what it (Continued on page 25) 22 22

O&P O&P ALMANAC ALMANAC MARCH MARCH 2010 2010

Transitioning to the Master’s Degree:

T

An Update

his year, 2010, marks an exciting milestone for O&P education.

The first major deadline will take place sometime this year in the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education’s (NCOPE) mandate that all new academic O&P programs accredited by NCOPE and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) be able to award a master’s degree in O&P. All current NCOPEaccredited academic O&P programs also must transition to the master’s degree as a minimum standard by 2012, although they can continue to offer a post-baccalaureate certificate through the end of 2014 for those students who are extending their credentials only.

The transition is on track, although the master’s degree core curriculum manual, which NCOPE had hoped to have ready by Jan. 1, 2010, is still under review by CAAHEP, says Robin Seabrook, NCOPE’s executive director.

The delay, however, is purely due to a need for reformatting to meet revised administrative requirements. The guide should be ready to be implemented by schools on July 1, she adds.

“This doesn’t mean that new [master’s degree] programs can’t apply for accreditation now,” Seabrook says. “The only caveat is that they will be meeting bachelor’s degree standards but offering the master’s degree anyway.”

Currently, one new O&P master’s degree program at the University of Pittsburgh, is actively pursuing accreditation. It received candidacy status in 2009 and launched its first class in fall 2009. Its addition will bring the number of NCOPE-accredited schools

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to 10. Three other academic institutions have contacted Seabrook and expressed interest in starting a master’s degree-level O&P program—Alabama State University (Montgomery), Baylor University (Houston, Texas), and the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

Considering the limited size of the O&P profession, the enthusiastic response and interest by additional institutions is exciting, she adds.

Georgia Tech in Atlanta and Eastern Michigan State University in Ypsilanti have offered master’s degree-level programs since 2002 and 2003 respectively, while the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas will enroll its first cohort of master’s degree students in summer 2010. The latter program is seeing more applications than it did for its previous bachelor’s degree program, including older applicants and a significant number of people who already have mechanical or biomedical engineering degrees, says Susan Kapp, M.Ed., CPO, LPO. “We don’t know what these engineers were doing before, but we think it’s exciting,” she adds. “These are our future researchers who could go on to a PhD program.”

University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in Seattle is awaiting final approval from the state education system’s higher education board to go forward with its master’s program but hopes to enroll its first master’s level students in fall 2011, says Ann Yamane, M.Ed, CO/LO, head of that institution’s ProstheticsOrthotics Division. “Our physical therapy program is at the doctorate level, and our occupational therapy program is at the master’s level, so it has been a long-term goal for our

department to bring the O&P program to the master’s level, too,” she adds.

Because it is not licensed by the state to award higher degrees, the J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics at St. Petersburg College in Florida is exploring creating a consortium with various partners, including Florida State University in Tampa to jointly offer the required coursework.

“If the proposal goes through, it will allow us to offer the master’s degree very creatively,” says Arlene Gillis LPO, CP, director of clinical education.

“This allows students to spend more time working on clinical and laboratory skills here at St. Petersburg College, and when they transfer to another institution, they can concentrate on research, business, and engineering skills.”

All four NCOPE-accredited postbaccalaureate certificate programs also are expected to meet the 2012 deadline, Seabrook says. These include: • The Newington Program, affiliated with the University of Hartford, Connecticut • Northwestern University’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Center in Chicago • Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota • California State University, Dominguez Hills.

(Continued from page 22) task force to collect input from O&P practitioners and educators at the 10 NCOPE-accredited O&P schools and five technician schools on areas where graduates could benefit from practitioner skill-sharing. The result has been twofold.

First, AOPA has extended complimentary access to schools and students for a number of tools, including the O&P Illustrated Guide, subscriptions to O&P Almanac, and access to its online search engine for billing L codes.

Second, the task force is working with AOPA-member practitioners to develop approximately twohour Webinar training modules on 15 different subject areas including marketing, sales, cost accounting, and reading financial statements. The Webinars are expected to be ready by late spring/early summer and also will be available to AOPA members to refresh their own practice manage-

ment skills, Hornfisher says.

“We went in thinking there might be some resistance from the schools, but they all have been excited,” he adds. “They have been encouraging and even have been coming up with topics.”

The J.E. Hanger O&P Program hopes to incorporate the modules as supplemental material to its practice management course, Gillis says.

“This will allow students to get a glimpse of what to expect in the real world in terms of billing and how to run a practice,” she adds. “It’s going to make them more valuable to employers if they have knowledge of how to run a business.” “[Practice management] has always been an area we have been trying to improve and expand,” Yamane says. “We are excited about the relationship and the assistance AOPA is offering the schools.”

Last year, AOPA also offered students and faculty from all the

O&P schools discounted registrations to the National Assembly in Seattle.

While University of Washington faculty always attended the conference, students were able to go for the first time and found the workshops, lectures, and interactions with other practitioners interesting and valuable, Yamane says.

O&P students at the J.E. Hanger O&P Program also are encouraged to participate in professional organizations and their conventions. Students regularly engage in fundraising activities to offset travel and membership costs for meetings held by AOPA and the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, Gillis says. “There is no better place to see students reap the benefits of the years of experience, both clinically and professionally, which all those practitioners in attendance can offer them,” she adds. “Students usually come back so grateful to have attended and in awe of all the people they have met.”

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Residency Remains Key Still, because residency programs last an entire year, they allow the biggest and best opportunity for orthotists and prosthetists to pass on a lifetime of experience to students.

“It’s an invaluable experience; I don’t think the experiences you get in school quite measure up to seeing real patients with real problems that need real help,” says Christina Gambrell, prosthetics resident at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, a children’s facility in Dallas. “We see volunteer patients in class and also practice things on each other, but it’s not the same.”

She adds that when she graduated from UT Southwestern, she did not feel completely confident that she could treat a patient by herself. Her anxiety gradually vanished as she progressed through her orthotics residency, and now halfway through her prosthetics residency, she can feel her confidence rising with prosthetics patients, too.

Key to this transformation is mentorship by Don Cummings, CP, director of prosthetics, and other experienced practitioners at Texas Scottish Rite, Gambrell says. For example, Martin Bailey, CPO, LPO, taught Gambrell a whole new set of diagnostic and technical skills she never learned in class while treating a six-year-old boy with a proximal femoral focal deficiency, a rare congenital condition in which the hipbone is malformed and the femur is shortened. The patient had undergone a Van Ness rotationplasty, a procedure that preserved the boy’s foot as a functioning knee.

“Having somebody more experienced whom I could ask questions to if I got nervous meant a lot,” she says.

Cummings, who has been shepherding residents or American Board for Certification (ABC)-eligible prosthetists in training at Texas Scottish Rite, for 22 years, encourages practitioners to consider the rewards of sharing one’s experience with students.

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“It’s mentorship as defined by having someone along to observe and assist while you’re practicing as an experienced prosthetist,” he says. “You have the benefit of having seen that patient before or someone like that in the past, and you’re passing on your knowledge and skills to others. At some point, they begin to do it, and you’re there to assist them.”

At Texas Scottish Rite, residents also get to observe, interact, and collaborate with an entire rehabilitation team including orthopedists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, most whom have been in the field for about 20 years, Cummings says. And they get to attend monthly journal meetings, focusing on recent articles and research, and in-service or “multiform” meetings during which the team engages in a literature review or debates a challenging case. “This always brings up a review of what’s worked or not in the past and a discussion of what’s new in technology and approach,” Cummings says.

Because all fabrication is done onsite at Texas Scottish Rite, prosthetics residents receive exposure to what some feel is now a “bit of

that old-school approach” where laminating, transforming, vacuumforming all were completed in-house, he adds. “They understand how to literally make the devices, and that helps them be much stronger down the road even if they have technicians that do all their fabrication. They recognize quality work and the effort that takes, and they are able to talk to technicians in their language.”

Students who complete their residencies at institutional settings are often highly sought after by practitioners when they seek their first job, Bedard says. “Many times, residents are looking for broadbased clinical exposure because they know that is going to make them a more valuable employee once they finish their residency,” he adds.

However, the biggest lesson Gambrell says she is learning from Cummings is simply observing and listening as he interacts with patients.

“He has an ease with patients that comes from years of experience and also being an amputee himself,” she adds. “He also explains things to patients in ways they understand.

That’s what I want to be as a practitioner—knowledgeable about things but also somebody patients feel really comfortable with.”

That observation was invaluable even in learning how to treat patients whose cases were neither rare nor complicated, such as another boy who just had a below-knee amputation.

“New amputees have a lot of questions and don’t know if something feels normal,” Gambrell says. “I spent a lot of that visit just listening to what Don said. While I’d learned the majority of it in school, hearing him say it reinforced that knowledge and made me more confident in what I already really knew.” a

Anya Martin is a contributing writer for O&P Almanac. Reach her at anya99@ mindspring.com.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

By Scott Briscoe

O&P PROFESSIONALS OUTLINE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES TO EASE DATA CAPTURE

F

itting patients with orthotic and prosthetic devices to make their lives easier and more comfortable is certainly gratifying work for professionals in the field.

But as most practitioners also know, managing a successful practice requires plenty of back-office and back-to-basics administrative tasks, starting with ensuring complete, accurate, and compliant documentation.

Many reasons drive the need for good documentation, including ensuring swift payment from insurers, avoiding legal troubles, and improving the efficiency of your office and patient practice. Still, documentation is among the most dreaded office assignments in the business.

The key to taking control of documentation dilemmas, say top O&P practitioners, is to learn effective skills and processes to capture, manage, and monitor information vital to your business.

Divide Your Documentation Brian Gustin, CP, chief clinical officer at BridgePoint Medical in Suamico, Wisconsin, and immediate

past president of AOPA, helped develop a framework that serves to guide AOPA’s seminars and training on documentation. This framework divides documentation into three categories: • Clinical: Documentation that relates to seeing patients and how the patient is being managed.

• Technical: Documentation done in the lab and containing the specifications of the devices being built.

• Business: Administrative documentation, including health forms, billing, and other materials needed by insurance companies.

Clinical documentation needs to be a major focus of every O&P practice, though it typically is the weakest aspect. “One of the most problematic areas for O&P practitioners is clinical documentation,” says Eileen Levis, HCA, president of Philadelphia-based Orthologix, and president of the Pennsylvania O&P Society. “A lot of the practitioners who have been in practice for quite some time never had formal instruction in clinical documentation. A lot of these people don’t know how to do good clinical notes.”

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Improving Clinical Notes

Getting to good clinical documentation is understanding why it’s important, according to Jonathon Naft, CPO, LPO, with Geauga Rehabilitation Engineering Inc., Chardon, Ohio, and also a frequent AOPA presenter on coding and documentation. “If a patient comes in for an AFO and you document that you’ve provided a black copolymer 3/16-inch device with this, that, and the other attachments to the device, you haven’t done your job,” he says. “You have to go the extra step to document why the patient needed the device, and how the device will help the patient. You need to explain that the patient has had a stroke and while ambulating, his ankle goes into collapse. You’ve now documented that you are providing a device that will help your patient move. You’ve justified the L-code by establishing the medical necessity.”

Experts recommend striking a balance between technical and clinical documentation. O&P professionals can easily talk about device specifics—how it’s constructed, its technical specs, and finding the perfect fit and 30

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

movement—largely because they have historically been trained as technicians, says Gustin. “We get hung up on the components and not so much on the physical condition of the patient. We give very good documentation on what we’re doing; we give very little information as to why we’re doing it.” Gustin’s recommendation is to downplay the technical details and accelerate the clinical documentation that illustrates the medical necessity of the device.

One aspect of documentation that can’t be overdone is making sure that patients are equipped with accurate, written instructions. “If there are specific risks, specific concerns, specific instructions, it’s not sufficient just to give those to the patient orally,” says Matthew J. Smith, partner at Smith, Rolfes & Skavdahl Company, Cincinnati, a law firm specializing in health care. He advises practitioners to provide not only written instructions but also a form that patients can sign, acknowledging that they have reviewed and understand the information.

At Geauga, Naft recalls that it was not uncommon years ago for clinical notes to be jotted on the manila folders that contained patient charts. Now, Geauga professionals use voice recognition software to complete a clinical visit worksheet and instantly transcribe patient notes.

“One of the advantages to the voice recognition software is that we can immediately proofread what we’ve just said while it’s still fresh in our minds, rather than waiting days or a week to get things back from a transcription service,” says Naft.

Another advantage is that patient charts are digitized, enabling the materials to be used for various other tasks, including submitting electronic claims, providing easy access to share information with other medical professionals working with the patient, or creating printouts, when needed.

In addition to relying on technology to improve clinical notes, practitioners also need to review their skills. As a start, be sure to ask for and include medical histories, medications, and related details during the first office visit. Here are other tips: Levis: “Practice taking SOAP notes—subjective, objective, assessment, and plan.” Producing more structured notes will help you “justify your treatment recommendations down the road.”

Naft: “Take your notes immediately, right after seeing the patients. This is going to require that you become a time management specialist. You have to plan your appointment times so that before you see the next patient, you can make notes in the chart of the patient you just saw.”

Smith: “Something that’s starting to gain traction in the medical profession is taking clinical notes during the patient visit, explaining those notes to the patients, and having the patients initial those notes before they leave.”

Naft: “Be consistent within your practice. All the practitioners should be taking notes in similar ways and at the same level of detail, so that if a patient came in, any one of your practitioners

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could pick up the chart and it would be seamless, as if they had been seeing that patient at every visit.”

Gustin: “Focus on describing the patient’s condition and needs.”

A Documentation Culture Business documentation tracks all the other materials that O&P practices must monitor from completing HIPAA forms and prescriptions to billing and filing claim forms for each different payor.

“One way to get order out of the chaos is to stop looking at insurance companies as your adversary,” says Gustin. “The insurance industry is your customer. So the first thing I’m going to do is develop a customer relationship with my payors. I’m going to sit down with them to make sure I understand their policies, and I’m going to find out from them how I can best work with them.”

Another approach, which is not typical for the O&P field, is to hire a good business manager to ensure that documentation and related processes are handled effectively. “It’s not going to be popular,” says Gustin, “because the profit margins at O&P facilities are shrinking, and are only likely to get tighter, and a business manager can seem like a luxury. But if you ask O&P owners to talk about their biggest headaches in the last year, it’s invariably the business side of it. Perhaps it would be money well spent.”

O&P practices can certainly 32

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encourage strong communication among office staff about documentation practices. Naft reports that his practice meets quarterly to review processes. “At our last meeting, both our administrative staff and technical staff needed some extra information from our clinicians, so we added those things to the criteria,” he says. “It’s always evolving and changing. Just when you have your method down, it’s time to review and make sure you’re capturing what you need.”

Developing a self-auditing system is another best practice Naft champions.

“We do a daily check,” he says. “We cross reference to make sure every patient who was seen that day has documentation for that visit, and that the documentation is the type that will help our administrative staff ultimately submit claims that don’t get held up or denied.”

Smith also suggests developing a process that integrates a patient’s phone calls or e-mails into that patient’s chart.

“In today’s environment,” says Levis, “with the technological advances we have, there should really not be any more denied claims.”

Limiting Liability While there is no absolute shield against legal action by patients and others, ensuring documentation is in order along with proper office maintenance can greatly reduce the risk.

First and foremost, patients expect offices to be clean and orderly—

anything less will look unprofessional, Smith says. Practitioners also need to have a good raport with patients. If they think a facility’s employees are professional and honest, patients are much less likely to pursue legal action against that provider, he adds.

From there, documentation matters most. “Unless it is written down, unless you can tangibly show it to a court or a jury, it never happened,” says Smith.

The first step is to have a good intake system, and the key is knowing what to ask for: Do you need to know medications? Do you need to know what kind of care the patient has at home?

The second step is taking excellent SOAP notes and being able to tangibly show the patient plan from visit to visit. According to Smith, the bigger issue for O&P practitioners is not that a device will fail; it’s that the patient or customer will fail to to properly maintain the device. “They may not have it serviced regularly, or they may not perform the routine maintenance the device requires. When it fails in these cases and causes harm, they’re going to say they didn’t know how to maintain it or what their responsibilities were for servicing it,” he says.

Consequently, Smith advises against only giving instructions orally. Just as a delivery notice requires patient authentication, the more documentation that is signed by the patient as received and understood, the more protected a practice will be. In addition, every practice should have a written document retention policy that follows any state and local statutes, and is defensible with logical reasoning.

While staying on top of documentation procedures won’t likely lead to job fulfillment, following these suggestions for properly communicating, capturing, and managing business information will surely make daily operations, and long-term profits, more achievable. a Scott Briscoe is a contributing writer for O&P Almanac. Reach him at sebriscoe@ gmail.com.

Ask the Expert

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By Devon Bernard, AOPA’s government affairs department

Understanding and Complying with Red Flags Rules Tips for creating a written plan to prevent identity theft

T

he June 1, 2010, deadline for complying with the new Red Flags Rules is rapidly approaching. Are you ready? This month, we’ll answer common questions about the Red Flags Rules and offer tips on effective compliance.

A: In order for the Red Flags Rules to apply, an organization must meet two criteria. The organization must be either a financial institution or a creditor, and it must have covered accounts. Your organization is considered to be a creditor.

Q: What are the Red Flags Rules? Q: Why would our organization be considered a creditor?

A: The Red Flags Rules are a series A: Because you extend or arrange of regulations that were issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in late 2007 as a result of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003. The final Red Flags Rules went into effect in January 2008. The purpose of the Red Flags Rules is to help identify and prevent identity theft. Currently, almost 9 million people a year are the victims of some form of identity theft.

Q: Why do the Red Flags Rules apply to our O&P organization?

for someone else to extend credit, you are considered a creditor. Credit is an arrangement in which payment is deferred on a debt, or you accept deferred payments for services.

You routinely bill patients after the completion of your services; this includes collecting for the remainder of your fees that were not reimbursed by their insurance (i.e., the patient’s copay). This is what the FTC has to say: “Health-care providers are creditors if they bill consumers after their services are completed. Health-care providers

that accept insurance are considered creditors if the consumer ultimately is responsible for the medical fees.” As a creditor, you also are seen to have covered accounts.

Q: What are covered accounts?

A: A covered account is defined

as an account that allows for multiple payments, or any account that has a foreseeable risk of identity theft.

Your accounts are set up to allow for multiple payments, one for payment from the insurer and one from the patient. Also, your accounts do have the risk of identity theft. The FTC has found that almost 5 percent of identity theft victims (nearly 450,000 people annually) have experienced some type of medical identity theft.

Q: How do we comply with the Red Flags Rules?

A: Since you are considered

a creditor and you have covered accounts, you must create a written plan that will help you recognize and prevent identity theft. Your written plan must contain four distinct elements: • First, you must list the red flags that you will be looking for, which would be the patterns or activities you feel may represent the possibility of identity theft. No specific standards have been set that define a red flag, but there are two things

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

Ask the Expert

n

you should be on the lookout for: One is altered/suspicious documents, and the other is suspicious activities. This could mean that you routinely receive back mail as undeliverable, but yet the patient continues to insist the address is correct.

• Second, you will have to outline your process for detecting the red flags. For example, on new accounts, determine what type of information you need to verify that the person is who he or she says.

You may decide to use an outside entity periodically to help you verify the information using, for instance, the Social Security Death Master File (www.ssdmf.com). On existing accounts, you may want to periodically verify the personal information on file.

• Third, describe what steps you will take to prevent and mitigate identity theft. For example, if you are presented with an insurance card or ID that has been altered, will you

ask for additional identification, and if so what identification will you ask for?

• Fourth, you must create a way to keep your plan current and updated. This means that you should monitor current trends and train your staff periodically.

Q: Where can I go for assistance on complying with the Red Flags Rules?

A: Besides calling AOPA and

asking for assistance, you may visit the FTC Web site at www.ftc.gov/ redflagsrule. The FTC Web site has a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page, and you also can e-mail any questions. The site also provides the complete Red Flags Rules legislation. Most important, the FTC Web site provides a fill-in-the-blank, step-by-step form that you may use to create your own identity theft prevention plan.

Q: What are the

consequences of not complying with the Red Flags Rules?

A: No criminal penalties

are currently in place for failing to comply with the Red Flags Rules. It’s possible there may be financial penalties. However, you should not create your identity theft program out of fear of being penalized, but instead create it with the intention of benefiting your patients by protecting their identity. With the FTC template, it’s also very easy to create your plan and be in compliance. a Devon Bernard is reimbursement services coordinator for AOPA. Reach him at dbernard @AOPANet.org.

W NE IGN S E D

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AOPA Headlines AOPA WORKING FOR YOU

Outcomes Initiative Propels O&P Patient registry and a new research center ensure our future leadership

T

he AOPA strategic initiative focusing on outcomes and evidence-based practice will likely have more impact on the future of orthotics and prosthetics than any of the other 11 initiatives. Evidence of this is already surfacing as the development of a patient registry in collaboration with the Jefferson University School of Health Policy takes shape.

The November 2009 issue of the O&P Almanac offered an update on the registry’s progress, including its framework for gathering information on the comparative effectiveness of O&P treatment options. When credible data exist to support specific treatment options, the impact on patient well-being and payer decisions cannot be overstated. Public health policy as embodied in Medicare rules will shape the future direction of reimbursement, based on comparative evidence information.

Ten AOPA patient-care facility members piloted the registry beginning in early August 2009. By the September AOPA National Assembly, sufficient information had already been gathered to validate the registry’s approach, which consisted of documenting detailed information about 40 patients and their outcomes. Erin Thomson of the Jefferson

University School of Health Policy and project manager for the registry program has written articles in recent issues of the O&P Almanac that provide further details.

In addition to the patient registry, the University’s School of Health Policy, under the direction of Dr. David Nash, also has been conducting an exhaustive literature search to uncover available information, identify any gaps, and provide a prioritization of research needs in the field of comparative effectiveness.

Launching COPL The outcomes initiative also inspired the creation of the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and EvidenceBased Practice (COPL), a non-profit research and educational organization. While AOPA is providing temporary support services on a pro-bono basis, the Center is completely independent of any one O&P organization. COPL is governed by a board of directors consisting of one representative designated by each of the eight major O&P organizations, including AOPA. Brian Gustin, CP, AOPA’s 2008-2009 president, serves as vice president of the Center. Each organization’s board designee has one vote. The Board also is recruiting at least two outside members who are not practitioners but who have research and education credentials related to O&P. By the time readers receive this issue of the O&P Almanac, these appointments probably will have been made public.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

At the recent National Assembly in Seattle, the Center was introduced to the O&P community through a PowerPoint presentation on closed-circuit television in the Seattle Sheraton Hotel and also in the Center’s booth adjacent to the exhibit hall. Nearly a dozen companies and individuals have become contributing sponsors or members with donations ranging from $100 to $5,000. AOPA has offered a $40,000 grant to the Center in exchange for one complimentary Center membership for each AOPA member. The Center was created to reflect a cross-section of the best O&P thinking on research priorities and sources of funding. As a tax-exempt research and education organization, COPL enjoys an edge in securing foundation, government, and private grants. It also can take advantage of its ability to place public service announcements about the O&P field in the media.

COPL also is responsible for awarding three research grants of $7,500, each funded by AOPA, to support pilot research in three priority areas: liner-assisted suspensions, axis rotation in non-articulated foot-ankle mechanisms, and functional outcomes of the “Bullfrog” ankle-foot orthotic.

The Board continues to pioneer more research projects by identifying other areas ripe for investigation.

E-8181-0110:E-8181-0110

12/4/09

10:58 AM

The agenda for the outcomes initiative, including the founding of COPL, owes much to the efforts of the Outcomes Steering Committee, a joint effort by AOPA and the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics, chaired

by Walter Racette, CPO, and 2005-2006 AOPA president.

This work began with the Sun River strategic planning initiative and culminated in the 2006 Chicago leadership meeting that identified outcomes research as a critical priority. Like many successful endeavors, this started with a small group, modest budget, and a grand vision of how O&P could be transformed into a significant player in the 21st century. It’s more than AOPA working for you—it’s the entire O&P community doing the job!

For more details, visit the COPL Web site at www.centerforoandp.org. a

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AOPA Headlines

Learn to Manage Device Returns and Refusals The next AOPAversity audioconference, Billing for Refused/Returned Devices and Deluxe Features, will be held on Wednesday, March 10, from 1-2 p.m. EST. Dealing with patients who refuse or return devices is never easy, but these problems will happen at your practice, if they haven’t already. Join us for this informative session to: • learn how to bill for items that a patient wants to return • deal with unforeseen circumstances prior to delivery, such as patient

death, patient refusal of delivery, and changes in patient condition • find out how to bill for deluxe features of an O&P device • understand the difference between returned devices and refused devices • get tips on determining the salvage value of refused/returned devices.

The cost to participate is just $99 per line for members ($199 for nonmembers). An unlimited number of your employees may participate on a given line. Those who need

continuing education can earn 1.5 credits by returning the provided quiz within 30 days and scoring at least 80 percent.

You may register at www.aopanet.org.

For more information, please contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

Coding & Billing Seminar Set for Pittsburgh AOPA’s second seminar of the 2010 series of Mastering Medicare: Advanced Coding & Billing Techniques will be held in Pittsburgh, May 24-25. Hundreds of your O&P colleagues have already benefited from this advanced, comprehensive seminar given by AOPA’s coding experts and members of the AOPA Coding & Reimbursement Committee. At this seminar, you will: • learn how to code complex devices, including repairs and adjustments, through interactive discussions with AOPA experts and your colleagues • join in-depth discussions on compliance with Medicare billing rules and documentation expectations • understand how to assess and address compliance risk areas • learn successful appeal strategies and hints on avoiding claim denials • participate in break-out sessions for practitioners and office staff • get detailed information on hot topic O&P issues • earn 14 continuing education credits in two days.

Seminar attendees stay at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport for just $105/night.

The seminar cost is $525 for members/$725 for non-members, if you register by April 23. After the early bird deadline, the cost goes up by $25 per person. Any additional

38

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

attendees from the same office get a $50 discount: just $475 for members and $675 for non-members. Join us in Pittsburgh, bring your toughest coding questions, and spend an informative two days with AOPA’s experts and your colleagues.

You may register at www.aopanet.org.

For more information, please contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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AOPA Headlines

2010 CODING SUITE Now Available The 2010 editions of AOPA’s popular coding suite are now available for purchase. These products will help both new and experienced coders navigate the world of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).

The Coding Pro CD-ROM (available in both single-user and network versions) is O&P’s comprehensive guide to Medicare codes, reimbursement, and medical policies. This program provides updated Medicare fee schedules for all 50 states and allows you to import other fee schedules. It also features a tool to make writing prescriptions easier; and offers illustrations that make sorting codes much simpler. Members pay just $185 for the single-user version, $435 for the network version.

The Illustrated Guide is an easy-touse reference manual that guides users through the coding system for O&P, including the HCPCS code, the official Medicare descriptor, and an illustration for each code. Members pay just $185. Finally, the Quick Coder provides a speedy reference to the HCPCS orthotic, shoe, and prosthetic codes and modifiers. These laminated cards are durable, convenient to store, and cost just $30 for members.

Save $50 when you order all three! The 2010 editions of Coding Pro (single-user software), the Illustrated Guide, and the QuickCoder can be purchased together for just $350.

Order online by logging into the member portion of the site, or call AOPA at 571/431-0876 and ask for the bookstore.

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AOPA Announces Cailor Fleming Partnership Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Cailor Fleming Insurance is the new official provider of the AOPA Insurance Program. AOPA selected Cailor Fleming based on the positive experiences of current and former members of the AOPA Board of Directors who have used the firm for comprehensive insurance solutions for their practices. The firm has a 15-year track record of serving the O&P community and brings to this new partnership extensive experience, an exemplary service record, and competitive rates.

For a free, no-obligation quote, call Don Foley at Cailor Fleming at 800/796-8495 or dfoley@cailorfleming.com. For more information about AOPA benefits and the AOPA insurance program, please contact Tina Moran at AOPA headquarters at 571/431-0808 or tmoran@AOPAnet.org.

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AOPA Headlines

January’s catastrophic earthquake in Haiti created thousands of new amputees, each of whom now needs devices and prosthetic care to live his life as fully as possible.

Helping all of them is a daunting challenge, but as the saying goes, many hands make light work. AOPA has received many calls from those wishing to volunteer, as well as those who wish to donate components, and is working to organize these volunteers and donations to assist in what is bound to be a long and difficult rebuilding process.

AOPA has made a cash donation of $15,000, which was divided among the Amputee Coalition of America, which raised money to move donated devices down to Haiti; the group Healing Hands for Haiti, which works in Haiti continuously and was well positioned to hit the ground running; and Doctors Without Borders.

Photo: Associated Press

O&P Helps Organize Assistance for Haiti

More significant than the financial assistance, however, may be AOPA and AAOP’s role as a coordinators of donations and volunteers from the O&P community. Front and center on AOPA’s Web page (www.AOPAnet.org) and AAOP’s Web page (www.OandP.org) are links that say, “Click here to support the Haitian Amputee Relief Initiative.” Please click on this link and use the attached Web form to indicate what sort of assistance you are willing and able to provide. a

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AOPA Applications

The officers and directors of the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) are pleased to present these applicants for membership. Each company will become an official member of AOPA if, within 30 days of publication, no objections are made regarding the company’s ability to meet the qualifications and requirements of membership.

At the end of each new facility listing is the name of the certified or state-licensed practitioner who qualifies that patient-care facility for membership according to AOPA’s bylaws. Affiliate members do not require a certified or statelicensed practitioner to be eligible for membership.

At the end of each new supplier member listing is the supplier level associated with that company.

Supplier levels are based on annual gross sales volume: Level 1: equal to or less than $1 million Level 2: $1 million to $1,999,999 Level 3: $2 million to $4,999,999 Level 4: more than $5 million

Bio-Tech Prosthetics & Orthotics of Raleigh 3709 Nation Dr., Ste. 101 Raleigh, NC 27612 919/789-8222 Fax: 919/789-8226 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Bio-Tech Prosthetics & Orthotics, Winston-Salem, NC

G.C. Meyer Orthotics & Prosthetics 781-A Kenmoor Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-8624 231/759-9161 Fax: 231/759-6492 Category: Patient Care Facility Grant C. Meyer, CO

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

Gulbrandson Orthotics & Prosthetics

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc.

2615 Three Oaks Rd., Ste. 1B Cary, IL 60013-2806 847/639-4140 Fax: 847/639-4192 Category: Patient Care Facility Gil Gulbrandson, CO

37 Associate Dr. Oneonta, NY 13820-2266 607/431-2526 Fax: 607/436-9498 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics East, Inc.

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc.

4525 W. 211th Street Matteson, IL 60443 708/755-2200 Fax: 708/755-9619 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

2866 S State Route 291, Ste. B Independence, MO 64057-1273 816/478-4318 Fax: 816/478-6087 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics East, Inc.

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc.

1349 NW 121st St.; Ste. 300 Clive, IA 50325 515/243-1443 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics East, Inc. 1300 Des Moines St., Ste. 101 Des Moines, IA 50309 515/243-1443 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 310 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira, NY 14904-1458 607/734-7215 Fax: 607/734-7750 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 33 Mitchell Ave., Ste. 90 Binghampton, NY 13903-1674 607/771-4672 Fax: 607/722-0533 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

5360 Jackson Dr., Ste. 110 La Mesa, CA 91942-3012 619/667-7000 Fax: 619/667-4315 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. Ground Gibson/Centrex Building 3400 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 215/662-3340 Fax: 215/662-3686 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 103 St. Thomas St. Lafayette, LA 70501 337/234-1897 Fax: 337/233-3530 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 618 N Denver Ave. Hastings, NE 68901 402/462-5400 Fax: 402/462-8341 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 5401 South St., Rm 0169 Lincoln, NE 68506 402/486-8671 Fax: 402/486-8672 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. 6620 Fly Rd.; Ste. 230 East Syracuse, NY 13057 315/492-6608 Fax: 315/492-6159 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc/ dba Conner Brace Co. Inc. 3829 Medical Pkwy Austin, TX 78756 512/459-0011 Fax: 512/459-9522 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. 240 West 9th St. Casper, WY 82601 307/237-3688 Fax: 307/237-3696 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, MD

Methodist Rehab Orthotic & Prosthetics 107 Fairfield Dr., Ste. 10 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601/264-0359 Fax: 601/264-8154 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Methodist Rehab Orthotics & Prosthetics, Jackson, MS

Methodist Rehab Orthotics & Prosthetics

Spectrum Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc.

1607 Louisville Monroe, LA 71201 318/410-0947 Fax: 318/410-0947 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Methodist Rehab Orthotics & Prosthetics, Jackson, MS

2135 Pine St. Redding, CA 96001 530/243-4500 Fax: 530/243-4554 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., Grants Pass, OR

Methodist Rehab Orthotics & Prosthetics

Wright & Filippis

1600 14th St. Meridian, MS 39301 601/483-5280 Fax: 601/553-8612 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Methodist Rehab Orthotics & Prosthetics, Jackson, MS

Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics 591 E 10th Ave. Chico, CA 95926 530/892-1017 Fax: 530/892-1055 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., Grants Pass, OR

2607 Charlevoix Ave. Petoskey, MI 49770 231/622-8680 Fax: 231/622-8684 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Wright & Filippis Inc., Rochester Hills, MI

Wright & Filippis 1691 N US-23, Ste. 4 East Tawas, MI 48730 989/362-2897 Fax: 989/362-2914 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Wright & Filippis Inc., Rochester Hills, MI a

Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc. 1180 Crater Lake Ave. Medford, OR 97504 541/734-2435 Fax: 541/734-4366 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., Grants Pass, OR

Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc. 1963 Thompson Rd. Coos Bay, OR 97420 541/269-1773 Fax: 541/269-2790 Category: Affiliate Parent Company: Spectrum Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., Grants Pass, OR

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Marketplace

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For more information call 888/ 678-6548 or visit www.allardusa.com, info@allardusa.com.

APIS FOOTWEAR PRESENTS THE NEW BUNION/EMEDA SHOES

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ARIZONA AFO “THINK PINK” 2010 CAMPAIGN For the third consecutive year Arizona AFO, Inc is proud to partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer awareness. With every AFO that is ordered in our pink leather, Arizona AFO, Inc will donate $50 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Over the past two years more than $29,000 has been donated through this special program!

Give your patient’s the option to “Think Pink” and show their support for this worthy cause. Thank you for your continued support!

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COLLEGE PARK’S LATEST INNOVATION – THE SOLEUS™ Apis Footwear is proudly presenting the new Bunion/Emeda shoes that are available off-the-shelf.

The entire collar of the shoe is made of expandable elastic foam fabrics, designed to conform to the shape of the ankle and significantly reduce Achilles pressure. The leather counter will reflex which allows for more flexibility for support or for release. With built-in flex area on medial and lateral side of the shoes, this unique design will accommodate mild or severe bunion and bunionette situations. The Lycra top will allow more room in the shoe 46

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

The Soleus offers a dynamic heel that allows for a seamless, smooth transition between heel strike and toe-off.

Involving the entire foot in absorbing and returning energy, the Soleus four-spring system accommodates a

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Key features include: • Synchronized control throughout the stance phase • Superior terrain compliance • Precision gait matched for out-ofthe-box performance • Available in gold and silver.

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YOUR ANSWER TO DROPFOOT, THE PEROMAX AFO

The Peromax Carbon Fiber AFO is an excellent recovery device for Peroneal Paralysis patients. Its carbon fiber design allows for high energy return and is rated up to a maximum weight of 275 pounds. The Peromax also is used for the rehabilitation of Achilles tendon injuries.

For more information about the Peromax please visit us at booth # 249–253 and 292–296! Contact Euro International at 800/378-2480 or visit www.eurointl.com.

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Contact Fillauer at 800/251-6398 or www.fillauercompanies.com.

INTRODUCING KISS SUPERSLIDER™ Are you looking for a lightweight, durable composite orthotic? The DS Blue Shaped Orthotic (4-9-0-179V-size) is a slightly shaped foot plate, cutout to the shape of a foot. It features fiberglass knitting with vertical fibers and acrylic resin. The DS Blue Shaped Orthotic provides strong support and high energy return with a lightweight and low-profile structure. It can be reheated and remolded several times without damaging the material and is easy to grind. It also does not require any special storage!

For more information about the DS Blue Shaped Orthotic or the rest of the DS family including plates, sheets, and preformed orthotics, please call 800/378-2480 or visit www.euroorthotics.com.

KISS Superhero™ damage-free test socket plate, with pyramid or receiver, and achieve superior test socket slide and angular adjustment.

• KISS Superslider™ Part #: CMP28/A. • KISS Superslider™ KIT (includes KISS Superhero™) Part #: CMP29/A. Contact KISS Technologies at 410/663-KISS (5477) or visit www.kiss-suspension.com.

The Superslider™ simplifies test socket dynamic alignment. It allows linear alignment changes, in the transverse plane, and slides one inch in all directions. It is durable and reusable. Combine with

DYCOR's New CFS Partial Foot

TRANS-FEMORAL ROTATOR

The Trans-Femoral Rotator 300 (TFR) from Hosmer is a welcome addition to any above-knee prosthesis. It allows the amputee to rotate the shin section of the prosthesis relative to the socket, making entry and exit of tight spaces, such as automobiles, much easier.

• Allows cross-legged sitting.

• Facilitates entering and exiting cars.

Dycor's new CFS Partial Foot incorporates an integrated custom silicone liner with an advanced carbon fiber/epoxy composite socket and urethane nylon composite upper. This combination enhances pressure dissipation and reduces bulk. The custom silicone liner is available in 4, 5 and 6 millimeter with optional zone padding, soft, medium and firm. The cosmetic cover is either a silicone or urethane/nylon composite. Function is facilitated with either passive or flexible keel feet and optional Velcro closure, depending on ADLs and ablation level. Modified model, tracing of contralateral foot and shoe are required. Allow 10 working days for fabrication. Samples available upon request.

Weight including 5mm liner and flexible keel foot is 8 oz.

(26med.). Prior to casting, please call our Technical Services dept. at 800-794-6099.

Visit our website at www.dycormfg.com. .

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Marketplace

ALPHA® ORIGINAL MP LINERS: THE ORIGINAL IN COMFORT & PROTECTION • The most popular Alpha Liner.

• The most popular gel thickness.

• The most popular gel profile.

• The most popular fabric.

• All sizes.

• New lower price.

• The Alpha Original MP Liner Six millimeters gel thickness, uniform style, and Original green/ gray fabric are the specification for the Alpha Original MP Liner. This is the most popular Alpha Liner from Ohio Willow Wood at a new, lower price.

Ohio Willow Wood is providing real solutions for practitioners and their patients.

For more information, contact Ohio Willow Wood at 800/848-4930 or www. owwco.com.

ÖSSUR LAUNCHES NEW RHEO KNEE® WITH MULTIPLE ADVANTAGES The new and improved RHEO KNEE, the latest addition to Össur’s innovative Bionic line, now offers a higher weight limit (275 pounds), increased torque, faster swing speed, and improved aesthetics. Thanks to its low build height, the RHEO KNEE is compatible with the entire Össur Flex-Foot line. Together they deliver maximum dynamics and a natural gait experience. As always, the RHEO KNEE recognizes and responds immediately to changes in speed, load, and terrain, restoring the user’s ability to walk

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

naturally, comfortably, and confidently at any speed.

For more information, please call 800/233-6263 or visit our Web site at www.ossur.com.

3R80––HIGHER WEIGHT LIMIT FROM THE KNEE YOU TRUST

medical grade mineral oil keeps skin supple and moisturized. Its unique shape is designed with balance in mind too, with differing wall thicknesses to provide 6 mm of cushioning and reduced shear forces where your patients need it—and 3 mm of antibunching flexibility where they don’t.

Find out more about how you can get your patients in Balance today, call 800/328-4058 or visit www.ottobockus.com.

PEL SUPPLY OFFERS NEW STOCK SPINAL ORTHOSES

A new 330 pound weight limit gives you more options from Otto Bock’s robust rotary hydraulic knee––the 3R80. The weight limit is new, but you are familiar with this K3/K4 knee’s dynamic performance. Stable flexion resistance through the knee’s entire range of motion gives users more controlled stair descent than other hydraulic knees. Its advanced design makes it simpler for users to activate stance to recover from stumbles.

Find out more about the 3R80’s new weight limit by calling your local Sales Representative at 800/328-4058 in the U.S., 800/665-3327 in Canada, or visit www.ottobockus.com.

BALANCE LINER FIND YOUR BALANCE! Otto Bock’s 6Y93 Balance Copolymer Liner was designed for low to moderate activity level transtibial amputees. The user-friendly, heat-moldable copolymer (TPE) material offers great protection against socket forces for both cushion and locking liners, while encapsulated

PEL Supply now offers the Orthomerica ready-to-fit prefabricated TLSO Stock Spinal Orthoses. Braces are finished and ready to fit and can be kept in stock for same day, late night, or weekend fittings. Designed to fit 75 percent of the adult patient population, the Bi-valve TLSO is offered with or without an ATE (Anterior Thoracic Extension). Anterior and posterior shells are interchangeable in same size. Available in 12 sizes—six male, six female (XS-XXL)—in neutral or Pendulous Abdomen fronts in 0° or 15° lordosis.

For more information on the new Stock Spinal Orthoses, or any spinal system orthoses from Orthomerica, contact your friendly PEL Supply Customer Service representative.

Phone PEL at 800/321-1264, fax at 800/222-6176, or e-mail customerservice@pelsupply.com. Registered users can order online at www.pelsupply.com.

IDENTIFY

|

INNOVATE

|

INDIVIDUALIZE

The College Park Ideal is at the core of everything we do. It’s our commitment to go beyond minimal requirements and provide the ideal fit, ideal form and ideal function in every product we create. It’s how we identify both the patient and practitioner’s needs and produce innovative and highly adjustable products. Our ideal focuses on human variability, custom building each foot from thousands of possibilities to provide individualized solutions. You can always trust CPI to create your patient’s CPIDEAL.

800.728.7950

I college-park.com

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Marketplace

NEW WALKAIDE® BI-FLEX™ CUFF AT SPS SPS is pleased to launch the new WalkAide Bi-Flex Cuff, designed to provide a secure fit and optimal electrode positioning to enhance reproducibility of outcomes both inside and outside clinical settings.

• Visual Indicator helps accurately align the WalkAide System for consistent positioning.

• Universal Fit can be used on either left of right leg and is available in three convenient sizes.

• Electrode Locators help ensure precise electrode placement every time for optimized stimulation.

• Dual Durometer Construction–– rigid side helps secure cuff while allowing one-handed donning and

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

doffing; soft side conforms to the leg for total electrode contact.

For more information, contact SPS Customer Service at 800/767-7776 ext. 3 or your SPS Sales Manager. a

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Jobs Inter-Mountain

INCREASE EXPOSURE AND SAVE!

Place your classified ad in the O&P Almanac and online on the O&P Job Board at jobs.AOPAnet.org and save 5% on your order. BONUS! Online listings highlighted in yellow in the O&P Almanac.

CO, CP, and/or CPO Arizona Immediate openings for motivated practitioners at privately owned company in beautiful Arizona. Board-eligible practitioners also will be considered. Clinical and fabrication skills preferred. We offer a generous benefit package including competitive salaries, health insurance, profit-sharing, and productivity bonuses. E-mail or fax resume in confidence to:

Fax: 602/569-7500 E-mail: rongoldstein@apos.net

- Northeast - Mid-Atlantic - Southeast - North Central - Inter-Mountain - Pacific

CO/CPO El Paso, Texas Locally owned and operated family O&P business, we offer a competitive salary and exceptional benefits package and retirement plan. Please send or fax resume to:

Susan M. Guerra, RN Total Orthotic & Prosthetic Solutions Inc. 900 E. Yandell Dr. El Paso, TX 79902 Phone: 915/541-8677 Fax: 915/541-8678

Use our map to find which region you fit into!

CLASSIFIED RATES Classified advertising rates are calculated by counting complete words. (Telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and Web addresses are counted as single words.) AOPA member companies receive the member rate.

Member Non-member Words Rate Rate 50 or fewer words $140 $280 51-75 words $190 $380 76-120 words $260 $520 121 words or more $2.25 per word $5.00 per word Specials: 1/4 page, color

1/2 page, color

$482 $634

$678 $830

Advertisements and payments need to be received approximately one month prior to publication date in order to be printed in the magazine. Ads can be posted and updated at any point on the O&P Job Board online at jobs.AOPAnet.org.

No orders or cancellations are taken by phone.

Ads may be faxed to 571/431-0899 or e-mailed to srybicki@ AOPAnet.org., along with a VISA or MasterCard number, the name on the card and the expiration date. Typed advertisements and checks in U.S. currency made out to AOPA can be mailed to P.O. Box 34711, Alexandria, VA 22334-0711.

Responses to O&P box numbers are forwarded free of charge. Company logos are placed free of charge.

JOB BOARD RATES Visit the only online job board in the industry at jobs.AOPAnet.org!

Member Rate $80

Non-member Rate $140

Save 5 percent on O&P Almanac classified rates by placing your ad in both the O&P Almanac and on the O&P Job Board, online at jobs.AOPAnet.org.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

Mid-Atlantic

Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist Philadelphia Culture, arts, history, and architecture…not to mention cuisine! Philly has it all! It is the country’s fifth-largest city comprised of art museums and galleries, serious shopping, all four major sports, University of Pennsylvania. And, can’t forget the Philly Cheese Steak! If you want more than a job and are ready to make a move, we would love to discuss your goals. We offer a very competitive salary and benefit package accompanied by relocation assistance and sign-on bonus potential…plus much more. If interested, please contact, in confidence:

Sharon King Director, Recruitment Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. Phone: 678/455-8865 Fax: 678/455-8885 E-mail: Sking@hanger.com www.hanger.com/careers

Pacific

Mid-Atlantic

CO, CP, and/or CPO

CO/CPO

Euclid, Ohio Well-established and respected O&P company has an immediate opening for an Ohio-licensed orthotist or other licensed practitioner whose scope of practice includes orthotics and prosthetics. We are a fully accredited, broad spectrum practice that offers opportunities in all aspects of orthotic and prosthetic care. A competitive salary and benefit package are offered. Respond to:

San Francisco/Bay Area, California Growing western states O&P business seeking a certified CO or CPO for an excellent opportunity in the East San Francisco Bay Area. Unlimited business opportunities available in an expanding local market. Competitive salary, benefits, and profit sharing as the business grows. Interested parties should e-mail inquiries/resume to:

Tom Heckman, CO Orthotic & Prosthetic Specialties, Inc. Fax: 216/531-5376 E-mail: OS1023@aol.com

Fax: 888/853-0002 E-mail: jwiley@pacmedical.com

Increase Earnings 10% to 20% in 3 Months Proven Turnkey Billing Services Make Your Practice More Profitable “Get Started Today, We Make it Easy ” “All Payment Checks Come Directly to You”

Call (866) 925-0674 for your “Billing Consultation” today Our customers have seen these results, You can too!

Stop chasing claims collect 10 % to 30 % more today

• 10% to 30% Increase in collections • 50% increase in office productivity • 90% less hours managing claims •100% of your billing needs handled • 30 + years guidance in O & P Industry

“30 years of O & P experience and 10 years as a billing agency has taught me how to get results and save you hours and hours of unnecessary management.

Call me directly, toll free (866) 925-0674, so I can show you how easy it is to have us do your billing today.”. ...John Dolza, President CPO Services We make it easy for you to transition your billing to us with complete Satisfaction.

Complete Professional Office Services p. (810) 629-6424 - f. (810) 629-6463

www.oandpoffice.com

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Jobs

CO/Board-Eligible Orthotist

Northeast

CPO CO Board-Eligible Orthotist or Prosthetist BOCO or BOCPO C.Ped CFO Maine • Are you looking for something more?

• Do you want to be more than a number?

• Do you want a great life and a great job?

• We are a terrific practice looking for some nice people.

Is this you?

We are a well-established, patient-oriented, ABC-accredited facility seeking to strengthen our staff. Competitive salary offered, with bonuses commensurate with productivity, and renumeration for required educational credits.

Offices located in picturesque Maine, just a short distance from our coast and mountain regions. Learn more about joining our team of dedicated specialists by contacting:

Lake Placid, New York We are looking for an energetic and self-motivated practitioner to join our growing, family-owned practice in the beautiful mountain town of Lake Placid. We are looking for a practitioner who shares our commitment to superior patient care. The right candidate will be offered competitive compensation and the opportunity to manage our satellite clinic in Plattsburgh, New York. Inquiries:

Jeff Erenstone, CPO Mountain Orthotic and Prosthetic Services E-mail: erenstone@gmail.com www.mountainoandp.com

O&P Ad 25356, O&P Almanac 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 Fax: 571/431-0899

Why do I work at Hanger?

Chad Simpson, BOCP, LP, Practice Manager

In a word, access. At Hanger, I have access to the very latest technologies and that keeps me on the leading edge in my clinical practice. I also have access to the depth of knowledge that comes with being part of a national network of skilled practitioners.

In today’s uncertain economy, I have job security. I benefit from

AVAILABLE POSITIONS Orthotist Rancho Mirage, CA Stockton, CA Waterbury, CT Jacksonville, FL Tampa, FL Aurora, IL Springfield, IL Evansville, IN Ashland, KY Jackson, MI

Orthotist/Prosthetist

the strength of an established company, and at the same time, enjoy the freedom I find in my work as a local practice manager.

Jackson, MS Roswell, NM Fairfield, OH Toledo, OH Tahlequah, OK NW PA/NE OH Milwaukee, WI Morgantown, WV Wheeling, WV

Hollywood, FL Thomasville, GA

For more information visit www.hanger.com/careers

El Paso, TX

Prosthetist Bowling Green, KY Hattiesburg, MS Jackson, MS

Jefferson City, MO Enid, OK Morgantown, WV

Prosthetist/Orthotist Cameron Park, CA Denver, CO Washington, DC Marietta, GA Columbia, MO Farmingdale, NJ Las Vegas, NV

Contact, in confidence:

Sharon King, Director, Recruitment 5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy., Suite 901 Suwanee, GA 30024 Tel: 678-455-8865, Fax: 678-455-8885 sking@hanger.com www.hanger.com Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment to all qualified individuals. All conditions of employment are administered without discrimination due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, or any

Bend, OR Clackamas, OR Philadelphia, PA Fort Worth, TX Alexandria, VA Bremerton, WA

Certified Pedorthist

other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Residency Program or Certificate Primary Education Program Info, contact: Robert S. Lin, CPO/Dir. of Academic Programs. Hanger P&O / Newington O&P Systems, Ph. 860.667.5304 • Fax 860.667.1719

Waterbury, CT Columbia, MO Toledo, OH

Tacoma, WA Wheeling, WV

MARCH 2010 O&P ALMANAC

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Jobs Southeast

Certified Prosthetists and Orthotists Florida Come to Sunny Florida! Due to recent growth and expansion, we are adding to our Florida team! If you have excellent clinical, organizational and communication skills and possess or are eligible for Florida licensure, we would love to speak with you. Management experience a plus! These positions are accompanied by top compensation and benefits, relocation assistance, paid certification dues, state-of-the-art education, sign-on bonus, and much more! If you have what it takes, the sky is the limit! Send resume, in confidence, to:

Sharon King Director, Recruitment Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. Phone: 678/455-8865 Fax: 678/455-8885 E-mail: Sking@hanger.com www.hanger.com/careers

CPO Rome, Georgia Walker O&P is a privately owned practice in Rome, GA, one hour northwest of Atlanta. We have an immediate opening for a CPO in our expanding facility. We are seeking a hard-working and self-motivated practitioner with good clinical and interpersonal skills. A minimum of three years of clinical experience is preferred. We offer a competitive salary based on experience and benefits including health insurance, vacation and personal time, and 401(k) forward your resume, in confidence, to:

Walker Orthotics and Prosthetics 205 Redmond Rd Rome, GA 30165 Phone: 706/232-4383 Fax: 706/232-4667 E-mail: lancwa@comcast.net

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

CPO/Branch Manager North Carolina Management and potential ownership opportunity for experienced self-starter. A well-established and growing practice has an opening for a branch manager in eastern North Carolina. This is an excellent opportunity for the right CPO to join a progressive practice focused on quality and service.

We offer excellent benefits and compensation. Please fax your resume to 919/231-3490 or e-mail rcarter@beaconpo.com.

You also may inquire in complete confidence to:

Rose Carter Phone: 919/ 231-6890

CPO, CP, CO or Board Eligible Palm Beach, Florida Immediate opening and excellent opportunity for a motivated Florida-licensed, prosthetist/orthotist, prosthetist, orthotist, or board-eligible practitioner. Great future and growth potential. Excellent compensation and benefits package. We are an established O&P company in New York, New Jersey, and Florida with an opening in our Palm Beach County location. E-mail or fax resume in complete confidence to:

Modern Rehabilitation Technologies Phone: 561/748-5657 Fax: 561/748-5658 E-mail: mrtinfo@modernrehabtech.com

Certified Orthotist and/or Prosthetist Jackson, Mississippi The crossroads of the South. A college town so there’s always something to do! Parks, museums, cultural events, historic sites, sports, and major downtown project improvements. If you want more than a job and are ready to make a move, we would love to discuss your goals. We offer a very competitive salary and benefit package accompanied by relocation assistance and sign-on bonus potential‌plus much more! If interested, please contact, in confidence:

Sharon King Director, Recruitment Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. Phone: 678/455-8865 Fax: 678/455-8885 E-mail: Sking@hanger.com www.hanger.com/careers

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Calendar

2010 MARCH 10: Ultraflex: Pediatric Spasticity Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon– 1:00 pm ET. Course covers lengthening and strengthening muscles and improving range with postural support and therapeutic/stretching assist. Instructor: Taffy Bowman, CPO. Register at www.ultraflexsystems.com or 800/220-6670.

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PROMOTE EVENTS IN THE O&P ALMANAC

CALENDAR RATES Telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites are counted as single words. Refer to www.AOPAnet.org for content deadlines.

MARCH 10: AOPA Audio Conference: “Billing for Refused/ Returned Devices and Deluxe Features.”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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Words

Member Non-member Rate Rate

25 or less 26-50 51+

$40 $50 $2.25 per word

$50 $60 $3.00 per word

Color Ad Special: 1/4 page Ad $482 1/2 page Ad $634

$678 $830

MARCH 11: Bioness Training Course.

Monte Carlo Resort, Las Vegas. One-day course covers NESS L300 system evaluation and hands-on training. Instructed by John Michael, MEd, CPO/L. The NESS L300 is a user-friendly neuroprosthetic designed to improve gait for individuals experiencing foot drop. 7 MCEs from ABC. Register at www.opga.com or 800/2146742.

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BONUS! Listings will be placed free of charge on the Attend O&P Events section of www.AOPAnet.org.

Send announcement and payment to: O&P Almanac, Calendar, P.O. Box 34711, Alexandria, VA 22334-0711, fax 571/431-0899, or e-mail srybicki@AOPAnet.org along with VISA or MasterCard number, the name on the card, and expiration date. Make checks payable in U.S. currency to AOPA. For information on continuing education credits, contact the sponsor.

Questions?

E-mail srybicki@AOPAnet.org.

AOPA-sponsored activities appear in red.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

MARCH 11: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic VS™ Applications Practitioner Course.

Mt. Sterling, OH. Course covers various clinical aspects of LimbLogic VS applications: static and dynamic socket fitting, vacuum pump configurations, fob operation, system evaluation, liner options, alignment, and troubleshooting. Credits: 7.25 ABC/7.0 BOC. Registration deadline is February 18. To register, call 877/665-5443.

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MARCH 22-23 Advanced Orthotic Design Workshop, Fillauer.

Chattanooga, TN. Course includes solutions and techniques that optimize gait; address the new orthotic components that emphasize dynamic motion guidance; and presentation of case studies containing unique challenges and subsequent clinical solutions. To register, contact Beverly Godsey at 423/624-0946.

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MARCH 25: Ultraflex: Adult UltraSafeStep™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon–1:00 pm ET. Course covers clinical assessment and compensating for adult gait deficits with the new Adjustable Dynamic Response (ADR) technology. Instructor: Taffy Bowman, CPO. Register at www.ultraflexsystems.com or 800/220-6670.

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MARCH 12-13: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic™ VS Applications Technicians Course. Mt. Sterling, OH. Learn all aspects of fabricating LimbLogic VS for various applications: socket materials, controller configurations and care, fob operation, troubleshooting.

Fabricate sockets following recommended techniques for airtight socket designs.

Credits: 11.75 ABC/11.5 BOC. Registration deadline is February 18. To register, call 877/665-5443.

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MARCH 16: Ultraflex: Pediatric UltraSafeGait™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon–1:00 pm ET. Course covers clinical assessment and compensating for pediatric gait deficits with the new Adjustable Dynamic Response (ADR) technology. Instructor: Taffy Bowman, CPO. Register at www.ultraflexsystems.com or 800/220-6670.

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APRIL 8: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic™ VS Applications Practitioner Course.

Mt. Sterling, OH. Course covers various clinical aspects of LimbLogic VS applications: static and dynamic socket fitting, vacuum pump configurations, fob operation, system evaluation, liner options, alignment, and troubleshooting. Credits: 7.25 ABC/7.0 BOC. Registration deadline is March 18. To register, call 877/665-5443.

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Calendar

APRIL 9-10: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic™ VS Applications Technicians Course.

Mt. Sterling, OH. Learn all aspects of fabricating LimbLogic VS for various applications: socket materials, controller configurations and care, fob operation, troubleshooting.

Fabricate sockets following recommended techniques for airtight socket designs.

Credits: 11.75 ABC/11.5 BOC. Registration deadline is March 18. To register, call 877/665-5443.

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APRIL 16: Wisconsin Society of Orthotists, Prosthetists and Pedorthists State Meeting.

Madison, WI. Sheraton Madison. Contact Andrea Pavlik, CO, at 920/803-9610 or andrea.pavlik@physiocorp.com.

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APRIL 17: Ohio AAOP Chapter Annual Spring Technical Meeting.

Columbus, OH. Hilton Columbus Hotel. Contact Richard Butchko at 614/6590197 or richardbutchko@ ohiochapteraaop.com.

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APRIL 22-24: International African American Prosthetic-Orthotic Coalition. Memphis. Crown Plaza Hotel. For information contact Jack Steele, CO at 901/270-5471 or fax 901/7251114 or visit www.iaapoc.org.

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APRIL 14: AOPA Audio Conference: “Documenting for Success: Chart Notes, Prescriptions and Physicians’ Records.”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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APRIL 22-24: Northwest AAOP Chapter Meeting. Seattle. Bellevue Courtyard Marriott. Contact Dan Abrahamson at 206/598-4026 or abrahams@u.washington.edu.

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APRIL 14-17: Texas Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists State Meeting. South Padre Island, TX. Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel.

Contact Elizabeth Carlstrom at 512/266-8600 or ejcarlstrom_ opbs@att.net.

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APRIL 15-16 Transfemoral Optimization Methods Workshop, Hosmer Dorrance Corp. Campbell, CA. Course addresses the challenges of fitting transfemoral prostheses; discussion and comparison of ischial containment fitting fundamentals, alignment methods, voluntary control and various knee designs; and relative benefits of shock/ torque absorption, stance flexion and rotation. To register, contact Clay Bergren at 800/827-0070.

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O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

APRIL 26-27: New York AAOP Chapter State Meeting. Albany, NY. Desmond Hotel.

Contact Joann Marx, CPO, FAAOP at 518/374-6011 or marx4nysaaop@aol.com.

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MAY 10-15: ISPO World Congress and International Trade Show for Prosthetics, Orthotics and Rehabilitation Technology: “Orthopadie + Reha-Technik 2010.” Leipzig, Germany. www.ispo-2010-leipzig.de.

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MAY 12: AOPA Audio Conference: “New Rules for HIPAA: Are You Still Compliant?”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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MAY 13-15: WAMOPA/COPA Combined Meeting. Sparks/Reno, Nevada. Nugget Hotel.

Combined meeting of Western and Midwestern Orthotic and Prosthetic Association and California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association. For information contact Steve Colwell at 206/440-1811 or Sharon Gomez at 503/5214541 or visit www.wamopa.com.

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MAY 14-15: Oklahoma AAOP Chapter State Meeting. Oklahoma City, OK. Francis Tuttle Technical Center. Contact Tom Ferguson at 405/271-3644 x 41028 or thomas-ferguson@ ouhsc.edu.

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MAY 19-22: Pennsylvania AAOP Chapter Spring Conference.

Pittsburgh. Sheraton Station Square. Contact Beth or Joe at 814/455-5383.

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MAY 20-22: Louisiana Association of Orthotist & Prosthetist Meeting. Lafayette Hilton. O, P & C.Ped credits. Come take in Louisiana’s creole culture and culinary delights! Contact Sharon Layman, 504/464-5577 or laymansh@yahoo.com or visit www.LAOP.org.

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MAY 24-25: AOPA Mastering Medicare: Advance Coding and Billing Seminar. Pittsburgh.

Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport.

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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JUNE 2-5: Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics 2010 Annual Meeting.

Clearwater, FL. Sheraton Sand Key Resort. For more information, call 847/6981637, e-mail acpoc@aaos.org, or visit www.acpoc.org.

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JUNE 4-5: PrimeFare East Regional Scientific Symposium 2010. Nashville. Nashville Convention Center. Contact Jane Edwards at 888/388-5243 or visit www.primecareop.com.

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JUNE 9: AOPA Audio Conference: “When Disaster Strikes: Implementing a Contingency Plan.” To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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JUNE 10: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic VS™ Applications Practitioner Course.

Mt. Sterling, OH. Course covers various clinical aspects of LimbLogic VS applications: static and dynamic socket fitting, vacuum pump configurations, fob operation, system evaluation, liner options, alignment, and troubleshooting. Credits: 7.25 ABC/7.0 BOC. Registration deadline is February 18.

Contact: 877/665-5443.

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JUNE 10-11: Michigan Orthotics & Prosthetics Association (MOPA) Continuing Education Seminar.

Mt. Pleasant, MI. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. For details visit www.mopa.info or contact Mary Ellen Kitzman at 248/615-0600 or MOPA_ meeting@MOPA.info.

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the eDuCAtion You need

from the experts You require

Webcast Online learning Courses designed for practitioners and office staff who need basic to intermediate education on coding and billing Medicare. Education does not get any more convenient than this. Learn at your own pace—where and when it is convenient for you.

Earn up to

1.5 CE

Credits per Conference

Modules Currently Available AOPAversity Module 1

What is Medicare

AOPAversity Module 2

Filing Claims

AOPAversity Module 3

Medicare as Secondary Payer

AOPAversity Module 4

Administrative Documentation

AOPAversity Module 5

Hospital SNF Billing

AOPAversity Module 6

ABNs and EOBs

AOPAversity Module 7

O&P Coding Basics

AOPAversity Module 8

Orthopedic and Diabetic Shoes

AOPAversity Module 9

When Bad Things Happen

Earn up to

14 CE Credits

Mastering Medicare Advanced Coding & Billing Techniques Seminar ClassrOOm learning 3 Two full days of in-depth, advanced training Available three different dates at three different locations to serve you better.

Feb. 18-19, 2010 Atlanta

May 24-25, 2010 Pittsburgh

Oct. 14-15, 2010 Las Vegas

At this seminar, AOPA experts will provide the most up-to-date information to help O&P practitioners and office billing staff: • Learn how to code complex devices, including repairs and adjustments, through interactive discussions with AOPA experts and your colleagues; • Join in-depth discussion on compliance with Medicare billing rules and documentation expectations; • Learn how to assess compliance risk areas and deal with them; • Learn successful appeal strategies and hints on avoiding claim denials; • Break-out sessions for practitioners and office staff; • Detailed information on “Hot Topic” issues in O&P; and • Earn 14 continuing education credits in two days.

2010 Telephone Audio Conferencing

Earn up to

1.5 CE During these one-hour sessions, AOPA experts Credits per Conference provide the most up-to-date information on the following topics. Perfect for the entire staff—one fee per conference, for all staff at your company location ($99 Member/$199 Non-Member). A great team-building, money-saving, educational experience! Sign up for the entire series and get two conferences FREE. Entire Series ($990 Member/$1,990 Non-Member) DAte January 13 February 10

telephone ConferenCe Red Flag Rules: Are You In Compliance?

Hints on Passing Your Supplier Standards Inspection March 10 Billing for Refused/Returned Devices and Deluxe Features April 14 Documenting for Success: Chart Notes, Prescriptions and Physicians’ Records May 12 New Rules for HIPAA: Are You Still Compliant?

June 9 When Disaster Strikes: Implementing a Contingency Plan July 14 Medicare Appeals Strategies August 11 Medicare’s Knocking: How Good Is Your Compliance Plan?

September 8 Missed Billing Opportunities: Are You Billing Everything You Can? October 13 You’re Going To Pay Me WHAT?...

Hints on Managed Care Contracting November 10 The Ins and Outs of Billing in a Part A Setting: Hospital, SNF and Hospice December 8 2011 New Codes and Medical Policies Previous telephone conferences are available on CD. Please visit the AOPA Bookstore for details.

Register Today!

Visit us online at

www.AopAnet.org or call 571/431-0876 for more information.

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Calendar

JUNE 11-12: Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic™ VS Applications Technicians Course.

Mt. Sterling, OH. Learn all aspects of fabricating LimbLogic VS for various applications: socket materials, controller configurations and care, fob operation, troubleshooting.

Fabricate sockets following recommended techniques for airtight socket designs.

Credits: 11.75 ABC/11.5 BOC. Registration deadline is February 18. Contact: 877/6655443.

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JULY 8-10: Florida Association of O&P. Bonita Springs, Florida. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. For information visit www.faop.org.

AUGUST 6-7: Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotist and Prosthetist (TCAAOP). Annual meeting and Scientific Symposium.

Austin, Texas. Sheraton Austin Hotel. Contact Jonathon Cassens, CPO. 979/255-5165 or ctoplp@aol.com.

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AUGUST 11: AOPA Audio Conference: “Medicare’s Knocking: How Good Is Your Compliance Plan?” To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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OCTOBER 13: AOPA Audio Conference: “You’re Going To Pay Me WHAT? Hints on Managed Care Contracting.”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

OCTOBER 14-15: AOPA Mastering Medicare: Advance Coding and Billing Seminar. Las Vegas. Mandalay Bay Resort. To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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JULY 14: AOPA Audio Conference: “Medicare Appeals Strategies.” To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@ AOPAnet.org.

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JULY 15-17: Alabama Prosthetists and Orthotists Association State Meeting. Birmingham, AL. Birmingham Hilton. Contact Fred Crawford at 205/2801666 or crawfordfc@huges.net or visit www.alabamapoa.org.

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AUGUST 4-5: Canadian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists Meeting. Quebec City. Hilton Quebec. Contact Kathy Kostycz at 204/949-4970 or capo@mts.net.

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62

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

AUGUST 20-21: Arkansas Orthotic, Prosthetic, & Pedorthic Association State Meeting.

Little Rock, AR. Peabody Hotel. Contact Tonya Horton at 501/663-2908 or thorton@ hortonsoandp.com.

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SEPTEMBER 8: AOPA Audio Conference: “Missed Billing Opportunities: Are You Billing Everything You Can?” To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

NOVEMBER 10: AOPA Audio Conference: “The Ins and Outs of Billing in a Part A Setting: Hospital, SNF and Hospice.”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

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SEPTEMBER 29OCTOBER 2 AOPA National Assembly.

Orlando, FL. Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Exhibitors and sponsorship opportunities, contact Kelly O’Neill, 571/431-0852, or koneill@ AOPAnet.org.

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2011

■■

DECEMBER 8: AOPA Audio Conference: ”New Codes and Medical Policies for 2011.”

To register contact Erin Kennedy at 571/431-0876 or ekennedy@AOPAnet.org.

■■

MARCH 28 - APRIL 2: Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics 2011 Annual Meeting.

Park City, UT. The Canyons.

For more information, call 847/698-1637, e-mail acpoc@ aaos.org, or visit www.acpoc.org. a ■■

ORLANDO

SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 2, 2010 ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Rosen Shingle Creek Resort

SAVE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 2, 2010 We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

For more information, visit our Web site at www.AOPAnet.org.

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Ad Index For free product information from these advertisers, enter the advertiser name online at www.opalmanac.org/shop.

Company

Page

Phone

Web site or E-mail

Affinity Insurance Services, Inc.

37

800/544-2672

www.aopa-insurance.com

Allard USA Inc.

15

888/678-6548

www.allardusa.com

ALPS

31

800/574-5426

www.easyliner.com

Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics

54

703/836-7114

www.abcop.org

Apis Footwear

57

888/937-2747

www.bigwideshoes.com

Arizona AFO

23, 59

877/780-8382

www.arizonaafo.com

Becker Orthopedic

39

800/521-2192

www.beckerorthopedic.com

Cascade Dafo

25

800/848-7332

www.cascadedafo.com

College Park Industries Inc.

21, 49

800/728-7950

www.college-park.com

Daw Industries

1, 51

800/252-2828

www.daw-usa.com

Dr. Comfort

5, C3

800/556-5572

www.drcomfortdpm.com

Euro International

9

800/378-2480

www.eurointl.com

Ferrier Coupler Inc.

50

800/437-8597

www.ferrier.coupler.com

Fillauer Companies Inc.

43

800/251-6398

www.fillauercompanies.com

KISS Technologies LLC

33

410/663-5477

www.kiss-suspension.com

KNIT-RITE

13

800/821-3094

www.knitrite.com

Med Spec

35

800/582-4040

www.medspec.com

Ohio Willow Wood

2

800/848-4930

www.owwco.com

OPTEC

10, 11

888/982-8181

www.optecusa.com

Orthomerica Products

41

800/637-4500

www.orthomerica.com

OssurÂŽ Americas Inc.

7, C4

800/233-6263

www.ossur.com

Otto Bock HealthCare

C2

800/328-4058

www.ottobockus.com

PEL Supply Company

27

800/321-1264

www.pelsupply.com

SPS

17

800/767-7776 Ext. 3

www.spsco.com

American Board for Certification in

64

O&P ALMANAC MARCH 2010

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