The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) welcomes the announcement on December 18 that five major national organizations representing the orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) profession have reached a historic consensus regarding the minimum education and training requirements for providers and suppliers of custom orthotics and prosthetics.

The Amputee Coalition of America swiftly commended the following five organizations for their leadership in establishing and coming to a consensus on these important standards:

·  The American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists (AAOP)  

·  The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC)

·  The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA)

·  The Board Of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC)

·  The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP).

“This agreement is a major accomplishment for the O&P profession and a major step in ensuring that O&P patients are provided the highest level of care possible,” said Kendra Calhoun, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition.

This announcement comes as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is drafting proposed regulations to prohibit payment to any O&P provider or supplier who is not qualified through specific education and training. Currently, the Medicare program does not require any specific education and training for providers and many suppliers who provide O&P patient care.

“This is a great day for Medicare patients with amputations or other physical disabilities requiring O&P care,” stated Tom Guth, CP, president of NAAOP. “This agreement marks the first time the major O&P organizations have come together to state a consensus position on minimum standards that any provider or supplier must have to demonstrate competency.”

“This consensus position stems from legislation enacted in 2000, the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA), that sought to protect Medicare patients from unqualified practitioners and suppliers while limiting the potential for fraud and abuse,” said James P. Rogers, CPO, FAAOP, president of AAOP. “We are hopeful that CMS will seriously consider this consensus position from the O&P profession as they determine which providers and suppliers have specific education and training sufficient to warrant payment by Medicare for custom orthotics and prosthetics.”

The agreement establishes specific education requirements by mandating a bachelor’s degree, as well as specific formalized instruction, from accredited O&P schools as the only standard in the United States for providers and suppliers of custom O&P patient care. Reference to accredited schools means a comprehensive set of O&P-specific courses will be required before a candidate is qualified to sit for an exam in orthotics or prosthetics administered by one of two O&P credentialing organizations. A training requirement stipulates that candidates must engage in supervised patient care for at least one year in each discipline (orthotics or prosthetics). Finally, a grandfathering provision will phase in the consensus requirements. As of January 1, 2013, following this grandfathering period, those seeking certification by ABC or BOC must fulfill these agreed-upon education and training requirements to sit for the certification exams.

“The grandfathering provision will ensure that eligible candidates who wish to take our O&P competency exams are not penalized as these requirements come into effect,” explained Preston N. Madler, BOCO, chairman of the Board of Directors of BOC.

These five organizations believe that their recommendation to CMS to adopt their agreed-upon requirements will help CMS implement appropriate education and training standards through its own regulations in the near future.

“We see these education and training requirements as the long-term standard that should be adopted by all public programs and private payers of custom orthotic and prosthetic care, including state licensure initiatives,” stated Brian L. Gustin, president of AOPA. “We expect that CMS will adhere to the congressional intent of the statute they are regulating and do the right thing for Medicare patients requiring O&P care.”

“With O&P technology becoming more complex and the wide array of knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care, these consensus education and training requirements establish a benchmark for quality into the future,” said Robert S. Lin, president of ABC.

The Amputee Coalition of America is delighted that it can assure its members, prospective members and the public that O&P professionals are committed to the highest quality standards in education and training, said Calhoun. “We look forward to working with these organizations on issues that affect people with limb loss and the access to quality care that is essential for them to live to their full potentials.”