Views From AOPA Leadership

Put AOPA To Work in Your State

ONE OF AOPA’S STRATEGIC priorities is to help members succeed in the changing healthcare environment. This month, I’d like to talk about how AOPA is supporting its members through state-based advocacy. We frequently talk about our efforts at a national level—for example, the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act—but what’s happening in your home state is just as important.

Last fall, AOPA invested in additional staff who dedicate time to digging in and helping you at the state level. AOPA’s work in states is both reactive (based on member requests and information) and proactive (tracking all state-level activity using legislative and regulatory tracking software). When AOPA affirmatively identifies legislation or regulations that could affect O&P, we approach members in the relevant state to identify ways we can collaborate and support them. We diligently update members about what’s happening via the AOPA Co-OP and the State by State column in O&P Almanac because issues cropping up in one state are often similar to or harbingers of those that might arise in other states.

What types of issues is AOPA helping members address at the state level? Here are some recent examples:

North Carolina: North Carolina Medicaid requested a meeting with AOPA to discuss the proposed update to the coverage policy for cranial remolding orthotic (CRO) intervention. AOPA convened its CRO Intervention Workgroup, which includes clinical experts from AOPA member companies, and prepped the group for this meeting to ensure that there was consensus regarding the limitations of the policy in question. The workgroup has a draft medical policy and white paper in progress that can assist with similar efforts in other states.

New York: AOPA drafted a Medicaid coverage study bill that was introduced in both chambers of the New York state legislature. AOPA also is supporting an active group of New York advocates as they work to increase Medicaid reimbursement. AOPA has created a New York advocacy center to support grassroots advocacy.

California: AOPA has been working closely with the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association over the past year on its Medicaid budget resolution and supporting legislation. AOPA has created a California advocacy center to support grassroots advocacy.

Iowa: AOPA is supporting Iowa’s effort to get replacement and repairs added into the workers’ compensation law. AOPA has created an Iowa advocacy center to support grassroots advocacy.

Colorado: AOPA worked with clinicians in the state to thwart a 45% decrease to the state’s CRO reimbursement rate. This included submission of a request for a rate study and a letter in support of the clinicians in the state providing CRO intervention. Colorado Medicaid is currently working through that rate-setting process. AOPA will continue to track the progress and is prepared to launch a grassroots advocacy campaign, if needed.

If there’s an issue of concern in your state, please reach out to AOPA staff—they are ready to help.

Let me close by reminding you that if you want to hone your advocacy skills and fight for the issues important to O&P, please register for the 2022 Policy Forum, which will take place May 17-18 in Washington, DC. The skills and tools targeting advocacy at the federal level that you will take away from the Policy Forum are just as applicable to work at the state level. Wherever you are, that’s where we want to help!

Dave McGill is president of AOPA.

Specialists in delivering superior treatments and outcomes to patients with limb loss and limb impairment.

Board of Directors

OFFICERS

President Dave McGill Össur Americas, Foothill Ranch, CA

President-Elect Teri Kuffel, JD Arise Orthotics & Prosthetics, Spring Lake Park, MN

Vice President Mitchell Dobson, CPO Hanger, Austin, TX

Immediate Past President Traci Dralle, CFm Fillauer Companies, Chattanooga, TN

Treasurer Rick Riley O&P Boost, Bakersfield, CA

Executive Director/Secretary Eve Lee, MBA, CAE AOPA, Alexandria, VA

DIRECTORS

Jeffrey M. Brandt, CPO Ottobock, Exton, PA

Elizabeth Ginzel, MHA, CPO Össur, Fort Worth, TX

Kimberly Hanson, CPRH Ottobock, Austin, TX

John “Mo” Kenney, CPO, FAAOP Kenney Orthopedics, Lexington, KY

Jim Kingsley Hanger Clinic, Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Linda Wise WillowWood, Mount Sterling, OH

Shane Wurdeman, MSPO, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D) Research Chair, Hanger Clinic, Houston Medical Center, Houston, TX

James O. Young Jr., CP, LP, FAAOP Amputee Prosthetic Clinic, Tifton, GA