Academy Teams Up to Educate CMSThe Academy has teamed up with ABC, AOPA and NAAOP as part of a new coalition to represent the profession. The main goals of the team are to educate CMS on Medicare fraud and abuse, who is qualified to provide O&P services, as well as provide an accurate depiction of what exactly orthotics and prosthetics entails. A visit to an O&P facility in Baltimore has been scheduled for CMS department heads to help with the educational process. The Academy is confident that continued efforts to educate CMS will protect the patient and the Medicare program. The team is in regular contact with CMS and has its second meeting scheduled. Details will continue to be shares with the Academy membership on the progress of these meetings. Academy Launches State Licensure Task ForceAt the request of Academy president Paul Prusakowski, the Professional Issues Council of the Academy is assembling a State Licensure Task Force aimed at developing a model state licensure act and providing logistical support for state chapters culminating in legislation for O&P licensure. The blue ribbon task force will include veterans of licensure efforts from several of the eleven states that have successfully passed licensure legislation. Since the experiences of each state varies greatly, the diversity of the group will offer guidance to O&P professionals as states encounter the challenges of introducing and passing legislation. "The Academy feels very strongly that the most effective way for orthotic and prosthetic professionals to protect their ability to provide care, and to insure that patients receive care from qualified professionals, is through state licensure" according to Jim Rogers, CPO, FAAOP, PIC Chairman. During the AOPA Policy Forum in June, Herb Kuhn of CMS announced Change Request 3607, issued on 6/20/05, which limits CMS billing for O&P services in those states that currently have O&P licensure on the books to only licensed practitioners. As CMS, and hopefully other payors, begin to recognize licensure we can no longer remain passive on this issue. Licensure initiatives should be a priority in every state devoid of this protection." Chapter Liaison Ushers in New EraMarc Kaufman, CPO, FAAOP, the new Academy Chapter Liaison, is excited about the plans for Academy-Chapter collaboration. "The Chapters are the natural link with the membership. With events in O&P moving at breakneck speed, we are looking to the chapters as a conduit to communicate more effectively and quickly with our membership." said Kaufman. Plans call for the Academy to provide increased support on pressing issues such as licensure advocacy. Academy to Sign-On to ADA Statement of SolidarityJuly 26, 2005 is the 15th Anniversary of the American's with Disabilities Act. In honor of this milestone, The Academy joined over 350 other organizations in a declaration of solidarity with the disabled community of America. The goal of the statement is to help frame media coverage of the anniversary this July 26, and to demonstrate the unity and common vision of many organizations across the disability, aging, and civil rights communities. The statement acknowledges significant progress in the awareness and protection of the rights of the disabled, but also highlighted "the significant remnants of the 'shameful wall of exclusion' that continue(s) to prevent this great country from realizing the full promise of the ADA." Among those "remnants" were the high rate of poverty and unemployment among the disabled population, the disproportionate dropout rate for special needs high school students, and the fact that despite policy changes that have enabled more people with significant mental and physical disabilities to live independently in the community, the ongoing institutional bias in the Medicaid program keeps many people trapped in nursing homes and other institutions, unable to enjoy the freedoms and personal choices about where and how to live that other Americans take for granted. Signing on to this document was consistent with the Academy's advocacy platform. Rosenstein Named as New Executive DirectorPeter Rosenstein, the Academy's newly appointed Executive Director, will begin with the Academy this September. Rosenstein has served as Executive Director for several associations for over 20 years. His background in education and health care professions makes him a perfect match for the Academy.
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