State By State

Seeking More Favorable Laws

Updates from California, Colorado, Iowa, and North Carolina

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

Each month, State By State features news from O&P professionals about the most important state and local issues affecting their businesses and the patients they serve. This section includes information about medical policy updates, fee schedule adjustments, state association announcements, and more. These reports are accurate at press time, but constantly evolve. For up-to-date information about what is happening in your state, visit the Co-OP at www.AOPAnet.org/resources/co-op.

California

AB 1892, the bill requiring Medi-Cal reimbursement for O&P appliances to be set at 80% of Medicare, has passed the California Assembly with a unanimous 76-0 vote in favor. With the support of the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, more than 150 letters were sent to Assembly members via AOPA’s Capitol Canary grassroots platform just ahead of the bill’s floor vote. AB 1892 will now head to the Senate for further consideration. For the complete legislative history and bill text, visit the California page of the AOPA Co-OP.

Colorado

The Department of Health and Human Services has approved Colorado’s request to implement the “Colorado Option,” a state-specific health coverage plan that increases enrollment and lowers costs. Authorized through Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, the Colorado Option is projected to make insurance more affordable and accessible for 10,000 Coloradans starting in 2023. For more information on the Colorado Option, visit the state’s page on the AOPA Co-OP.

Iowa

HF 2411, a bill that allows for replacement prosthetic devices for workers’ comp patients, has been signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The final version contains an amendment stating that the portion of a workers’ comp settlement identified as the estimated future cost of prosthetic repair and replacement over the course of a patient’s lifetime shall be placed under control of the state treasurer in a separate fund to be dispensed as medically necessary. To read the full text of the enacted bill, visit the Iowa page of the AOPA Co-OP.

North Carolina

Medicaid expansion legislation has been introduced in the North Carolina Senate. Although HB 149 started as a telehealth bill when it was introduced in the state House early last year, it was recently altered by the Senate to expand Medicaid to more than 500,000 North Carolinians. HB 149 represents an opportunity to expand O&P access but poses implementation challenges. Contact AOPA with any questions or concerns regarding this legislation.

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