O&P ADVOCATE
Championing Care for Aging O&P Patients Therapist plays key role in advocating for fair O&P reimbursement in New York
New for 2022, the O&P Advocate column focuses on individuals who go above and beyond to advocate on behalf of the O&P profession. Here, you will get to know colleagues and O&P stakeholders who champion issues of importance to O&P practitioners, business owners, and patients, and who foster relationships with decision makers to ensure equitable access for individuals with limb loss and limb impairment.
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WO YEARS AGO, Matthew John-
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MAY 2022 | O&P ALMANAC
through the Assembly (S 7023/A 7892); it will require the state health commissioner to look further at rate adequacy for the O&P profession in New York.
Well-Rounded Advocate
Johnson, whose responsibilities at Hanger include supporting O&P professionals in evolving healthcare environments and delivering evidence-based patient care, is well-suited to his role as a champion for O&P. His background is in physical therapy, specifically addressing care needs for the senior adult population, and he is certified as an exercise expert for aging adults. “My patient-care experience was in a variety of areas, such as acute hospital, inpatient rehab, subacute rehab, home health, and outpatient over an eight-year span before working as a therapy program consultant,” he explains. Early in his career, Johnson worked for a therapy technology and clinical program consulting company that was acquired by Hanger in 2010. That move inspired his clinical interests in O&P. “Over the next 10 years, various projects further exposed me to O&P as a profession, and I eventually transitioned into an area leadership position for Hanger Clinic in 2019.”
PHOTO: Hanger Clinic
son, MPT, CEEAA, jumped into O&P advocacy after connecting with Ted Drygas, CPO, FAAOP, and others as part of the New York State Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (NYSAAOP). “There have been decades of unchanged reimbursement rates within the New York Medicaid system that created care disparity for those on Medicaid/ managed Medicaid programs,” says Johnson, who recently became Hanger Clinic’s area director in Philadelphia after serving as regional director for the New York Metro Area for several years.
“We collected patient testimonials, data from AOPA, information from New York Academy members, and feedback from other care providers and organizations to better understand the care disparity.” Johnson’s group also interviewed lobbyists, “which was a learning experience,” to shape the team’s overall plan. “Through patient contacts, we were able to get initial Zoom meetings with New York legislative leaders and their teams to educate on this disparity and seek guidance on steps to take for improving,” Johnson explains. “The key was aligning our message with legislative leaders having interest in healthcare or taking part in related committees.” Johnson notes that partnering with those champions has been instrumental in navigating legislative processes designed to secure additional funding to increase the New York Medicaid O&P fee schedule and reduce some of the stress in creating access to care issues. The team’s efforts are reaping some benefits: For the 2023 New York fiscal year budget, approximately $4 million has been allocated to increasing O&P reimbursement and adding in missing codes from the fee schedule. Additionally, a bill has passed the New York Senate and is making its way
