Vol. 7, No.4

April/May 2002

Academy Develops Simple Model Plan for Members to Comply with HIPAA Privacy Standards

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its Final Privacy Standards issued under HIPAA must be complied with before April 2003. To do that, practitioners will need to have a written plan that describes in detail how they will disclose patient health care information. The Academy has developed a comprehensive model compliance program, specifically tailored to meet the needs of O&P practices. The plan, available on CD which allows practitioners to customize it to their specific situation, is complete with: the necessary forms, an explanation of the Privacy Standards, and detailed policies and procedures to help ensure compliance.

Before April 14, 2003, practitioners will have to develop notices about their privacy practices, create "business associate" contracts for vendors that receive protected health information, develop a privacy compliance program, and take other steps to meet the Privacy Standard's obligations. The penalties for violating the Privacy Standards are severe. They include a civil monetary penalty of up to $100 per person for each violation of a single standard in one year. Additionally, there are criminal penalties for knowingly violating the Standards of up to $250,000 in fines and even imprisonment.

The Academy's Model Plan for Compliance provides virtually all that is needed. The CD was developed specifically for members and is available only to them at a cost of $300.

Let the Dance Begin

Negotiated Rulemaking Process Announced in Federal Register

With the announcement of the Negotiated Rulemaking Process (NRP) announced in the Federal Register, the clock begins on a six-month series of meetings to develop consensus on two key issues of the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act. The key controversy with this current law surrounds the list of "qualified providers" for orthotics and prosthetics. This list includes ABC practitioners, BOC practitioners, physicians, and physical and occupational therapists. Another section of the law that begs for clarification is whether a "qualified physical therapist" is qualified by merely being a PT or does the law mean for that individual to meet some additional criteria to be "qualified."

A second and equally important issue is who will be allowed to bill for certain L-Codes, especially those that truly require greater skill and expertise. There will also be several associations representing the interests of their members, including: American Physical Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, National Association for Long Term Care, and National Community Pharmacists Association. The Academy will be represented by Don Shurr, CPO and Mel Stills, CO at the meetings.

Academy Changes Membership Year to July-June
Result: Shifts Billing Cycle Away from Holidays

Members are sure to be pleased when after this next dues renewal the billing cycle is changed to July-to-June instead of the old December-to-November period. The shift was approved by the Board of Directors and announced at the Annual Meeting in Orlando to an appreciative crowd.

The change in Membership Year requires a "short year" to complete the transition. For 2003, members will be given the option of paying dues for a "short year" of December 2002 to June 2003, or not being billed again until 2004, by opting for an "extended year" of December 2002 to June 2004. For example, Active Members (practitioners) pay an annual dues rate of $300. (This amount has not increased in eight years.) If a practitioner chooses the "short year" option, his/her dues would cover seven months for $175. If he/she chooses the "extended year," the 19 months of dues would be $475. These amounts are based upon prorated annual dues ($300 ÷ 12 = $25 monthly rate).

The Academy is also offering the option of installment payments for Active and Affiliate Members (both categories are at the $300 rate). The individual would sign an agreement allowing the Academy to charge his/her credit card four installments of $121.75 ($118.75 dues plus a $3 transaction fee) for the 19-month long transition year. The card is charged for one-fourth of dues ($121.75) and again every two months.

News From Academy Chapters

The Florida Chapter is active on a local and national level with our efforts to support the Academy. With over 50 members and a new recruitment drive underway, we are in a good position to react to issues regarding the quality of patient care in our State. We are proud to have recently made a donation of $5000 to the Negotiated Rule Making Project. Another donation of $5000 to Project Quantum Leap was made with the help of Spinal Technology, who allowed our Chapter to donate the funds from a seminar conducted at the Shriners Hospital in Tampa.

We are active locally with efforts to insure the minimum educational requirements for licensure in our State are not lowered. Recent efforts to reduce the educational & experience requirements by a small group of individuals were nearly successful in undermining the current laws, reminding us to remain proactive. Our Chapter also works closely with the FAOP (Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists) on many issues. We are hopeful that Florida will have an accredited O&P school in the near future, and will strongly support such efforts.

Our State meetings FAOP/FC-AAOP continue to produce record attendance for both practitioners and vendors. Next meeting will be held Sept. 19-22 at the Tradewinds Resort, St. Pete Beach.

Provided by Gerald L Martin CPO, FAAOP.

Excerpts From the Board Meeting:

• The Academy named the Professional Issues Council to help answer technical questions received by the Amputee Coalition of America's information specialists.

• The Board approved a partnership with ACA where Academy members will be asked to offer all their prosthetic clients a free four-month membership in ACA as their "gift" to the individual. This would not cost the practitioner or patient anything, however, they would be asked to complete a short demographic form on the recipient. The ACA would send complimentary copies of inMotion and other information to each recipient. At the end of four months ACA would then invite them to become a member.

• Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP was appointed Chair of a task force to develop and implement a national campaign to increase the number of qualified applicants to O&P schools. The task force will be comprised of representatives from other O&P organizations with funding from the Academy's grant.

Thranhardt Winners Announced

The following individuals were selected by their peers as presenting the best two papers in the Thranhardt Lecture Series at the Annual Meeting. A $500 honorarium was presented to Gary G. Bedard, CO, FAAOP and Brian Giavedoni.

Gary G. Bedard, CO, FAAOP - A Preliminary Report n Measuring the Rate of Polypropylene Recrystalization After Clinical Thermoforming Through the Use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

Brian Giavedoni - The Impact of Articulated Knees on Infants and Toddlers.

Bylaws Changes

Having a valid quorum at the Annual Business Meeting, the membership voted to accept several changes to the bylaws.

The term "foreign" as in Foreign Affiliate category of membership was changed to "International." (Article V) The Board of Directors shall set all dues and other assessments of the membership, and at each annual meeting shall report annually on the financial status of the Academy, including the budget for the current year. Terms of office commence with the start of the Governance Year. (Article VII)

Election ballots will be prepared and mailed by staff within 30 days after the Annual Business meeting instead of 90. Returned ballots must be postmarked within 30 days instead of 45 from the time they are sent out. (Article X) Other "housekeeping" changes involved changing references to the "National Office" to that of the Academy Offices, and changing Executive Committee to Executive Council.

If you hurry you can still be part of The Academy's Advanced Training Series

A Two-Day Intensive Course on Material Science and P/O Design: Maximizing Patient Safety

John Michael, CPO, FAAOP, FISPO leads an intensive two days that looks at real-world mechanical failures of P&O devices. Emphasis is on using engineering know-how to create stronger, lighter, and more durable devices. Will also look at the malpractice implications, and include a live interactive video-conference with two experts in Australia that have tracked device failures for years and have an extensive database. No matter what your O&P training or experience, chances are you haven't been exposed to anything like the wealth of practical info presented in this special course. Call Bethany at (703) 836-0788, ext 206 to register.

May 3-4
$650 Member Registration
Northwestern Univ's Evanston Campus
Evanston, IL

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