Views From AOPA Leadership It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year To Advocate!

Greetings to all! As the snow melts in Minnesota and the spring begins to boast all its beauty, we are reminded that with the change of seasons come welcomed transitions and traditions. It is the time of year in O&P that we transition some of our energy beyond the exam room to advocate for those we are privileged to serve. It also is the time of year we get to take part in the O&P traditions of the AOPA Policy Forum in Washington, DC, and the Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM) events, where the Amputee Coalition, AOPA, and all of our sister organizations of the O&P Alliance join together to raise awareness for those living with limb loss and limb differences.

There is no doubt that advocating and educating helps to ensure the future of our profession. Advocacy allows us to demonstrate the impact we make in the lives of those we serve each and every day. The 2023 Policy Forum is the perfect opportunity to help make your mark on the O&P future. And, we need your voice. This will be my 13th Policy Forum—and it is by far the event I most look forward to on the O&P calendar. AOPA’s longstanding commitment to advocacy is what brought me to serve on the AOPA Board of Directors and as president.

During the Policy Forum, we meet with legislators and their staff. Having many diverse perspectives represented in these meetings helps us advance the O&P profession. So, whether you are a business owner, a practitioner, a student, a resident, a technician, an administrator, an educator, or a patient—or several of the above—we encourage you to attend. I also strongly encourage you to invite one or more of your patients or friends who are impacted by the O&P services we provide. Their stories help educate and relay the need for the policy issues we deliver. There is strength in numbers, so the more people we have, the better.

In addition, the Policy Forum is one of the best opportunities to acquire or hone your advocacy skills and learn about the legislative and regulatory issues facing the O&P profession. Prior to meeting with our elected officials, we will spend a full day getting up-to-speed and comfortable with advocating and educating with a purpose—to provide access to O&P care for those we are privileged to serve.

This year we will continue our work to see that the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act becomes law. This legislation would prohibit “drop shipping” of custom orthoses and prostheses to Medicare beneficiaries; ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access the full range of orthotic care from one O&P practitioner rather than requiring patients to visit multiple providers when the treating orthotist or prosthetist does not have a competitive bidding contract; and ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access replacement custom-fitted and custom-fabricated orthoses when a change in their condition or clinical needs occurs.

Advocacy does not just happen at the federal level; state-based advocacy is extremely important and makes a big impact. Our latest initiative, So Kids Can Move, asks state legislators to provide access to O&P devices used for physical activity for kids. Some states have included adults in their legislation as well. Some have included insurance fairness and/or provisions against discriminatory practices in the provision of O&P care. During the Policy Forum, we will talk about the success of some of these state O&P bills, and we hope you will become motivated to advocate in your state as well.

Please join us and attend the Policy Forum this year. You can register at http://bit.ly/4028vN8 I am confident you will leave informed, inspired, and energized. This event is yet another great example of our profession connecting with one another and working together to make our O&P world a better place.

I very much look forward to seeing many of you May 10-11 at the 2023 AOPA Policy Forum!

Very truly yours,

Teri Kuffel, JD

Teri Kuffel, JD, is president of AOPA.

Board of Directors

Officers

President

Teri Kuffel, JD

Arise Orthotics & Prosthetics, Spring Lake Park, MN

President-Elect

Mitchell Dobson, CPO, FAAOP Hanger Clinic, Austin, TX

Vice President

Jeffrey M. Brandt, CPO Brandt Ventures, Exton, PA

Immediate Past President

Dave McGill Össur Americas, Foothill Ranch, CA

Treasurer Rick Riley Bakersfield, CA

Executive Director/Secretary

Eve Lee, MBA, CAE AOPA, Alexandria, VA

Directors

Arlene Gillis, MEd, CP, LPO International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Tampa, FL

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

Kimberly Hanson, CPRH Ottobock, Austin, TX

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

James Kingsley Hanger Clinic, Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Lesleigh Sisson, CFo, CFm Prosthetic Center of Excellence, Las Vegas, NV

Linda Wise Fillauer Companies, Chattanooga, TN

Shane Wurdeman, MSPO, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D)

Research Chair

Hanger Clinic, Houston Medical Center, Houston, TX

Our Mission

AOPA staff and volunteers are committed to our mission of being a trusted partner, advocating for and serving the orthotic and prosthetic community by:

• Fostering relationships with decision makers to ensure equitable access.

• Providing education that promotes professional excellence.

• Supporting research that informs innovative care.

• Advancing equality to strengthen the orthotic and prosthetic profession and improve the lives of patients.

Our Vision

A world where orthotic and prosthetic care transforms lives.

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 | AOPAnet.org

Executive Offices

Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, executive director, 571-431-0807, elee@AOPAnet.org

Akilah Williams, MBA, SHRM-CP, director of finance and strategic operations, 571-431-0819, awilliams@AOPAnet.org

Health Policy And Advocacy

Joe McTernan, director of health policy and advocacy, 571-431-0811, jmcternan@AOPAnet.org

Devon Bernard, assistant director of coding and reimbursement services, education, and programming, 571-431-0854, dbernard@AOPAnet.org

Sam Miller, manager, state and federal advocacy, 571-431-0814, smiller@AOPAnet.org

Susannah Engdahl, PhD, manager, health policy and research, 571-431-0843, sengdahl@AOPAnet.org

MEETINGS & EDUCATION

Tina Carlson, CMP, senior director, education and meetings, 571-431-0808, tcarlson@AOPAnet.org

Kelly O’Neill, CEM, senior manager of meetings and exhibition, 571-431-0852, kelly.oneill@AOPAnet.org

Kristen Bean, digital meetings specialist, 571-431-0876, kbean@AOPAnet.org

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS

Joy Burwell, director of communications and membership, 571-431-0817, jburwell@AOPAnet.org

Betty Leppin, senior manager of member services, 571-431-0810, bleppin@AOPAnet.org

Nicole Ver Kuilen, manager of public engagement, 571-431-0836, nverkuilen@AOPAnet.org

AOPA Bookstore: 571-431-0876

Reimbursement/Coding: 571-431-0833, LCodeSearch.com

O&P ALMANAC

Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, executive director/publisher, 571-431-0807, elee@AOPAnet.org

Josephine Rossi, editor, 703-662-5828, jrossi@contentcommunicators.com

Catherine Marinoff, art director, 786-252-1667, catherine@marinoffdesign.com

Bob Heiman, director of sales, 856-520-9632, bob.rhmedia@comcast.net

Christine Umbrell, editorial/production associate and contributing writer, 703-662-5828, cumbrell@contentcommunicators.com

PUBLISHER EVE LEE, MBA, CAE

EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT CONTENT

COMMUNICATORS LLC

ADVERTISING SALES RH MEDIA LLC

DESIGN & PRODUCTION MARINOFF DESIGN LLC

PRINTING SHERIDAN

Subscribe

O&P Almanac (ISSN: 1061-4621) is published monthly, except for combined issues in June/July and November/ December, by the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. To subscribe, contact 571-431-0876, fax 571-431-0899, or email info@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.

Address Changes

Postmaster: Send address changes to: O&P Almanac, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Copyright © 2023 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 O&P Almanac. The O&P Almanac is not responsible for returning any unsolicited materials. All letters, press releases, announcements, and articles submitted to the O&P 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.

Advertise With Us

Engage the profession today. Reach AOPA’s membership with more than 10,694 subscribers. Contact Bob Heiman at 856-520-9632 or email bob.rhmedia@comcast.net

Learn more at bit.ly/23AlmanacMediaKit