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MCE Statements Have Gone Green

A BC IS SAVING TREES! We are no longer

mailing MCE Statements, but you can access your MCE report online 24/7 by logging in to your ABC account. To sign in, click the red MY ABC button in the top right corner of the ABC website homepage—ABCop.org. Both your MCE statement and Continuing Education Activities Report (CEAR) are located at the center of your account page and available anytime.= 

Mark of MeritSETTING STANDARDS • IMPROVING OUTCOMES • CHANGING LIVES

SEPTEMBER 2019

It’s That Time Again! ABC Annual Renewal

T HE DEADLINE for your annual renewal is right around the corner and we want to make sure

your renewal process is as easy as possible. You should have recently received an email renewal notice which included a link to make your payment online at ABCop.org via your MY ABC account. This is the easiest way to renew, but you can

also print your invoice from your account and mail it in with your payment. All annual renewal payments are due by December 1, 2019. Late fees are assessed for payments made past this date. For questions concerning your annual renewal payment, please contact renewals@abcop.org or (703) 836-7114, ext. 232. =

NEW ABC Telehealth Statement

G IVEN THE BROAD prolif-eration of computer and

smartphone technology in the everyday lives of the general popu-lation, telehealth has expanded rapidly in health care delivery to

patients. As a result, we recognize the use of telehealth as a method by which some elements of O&P care may be delivered and how that may enhance patient–practitioner collaborations, improve health outcomes and increase access to care when appropriately used as a

component of a patient’s care.ABC’s Telehealth State-ment outlines our position

on the appropriate use of this technology as it relates to our Code of Professional Ethics, Scopes of Practice and Facility Accredi-tation Standards. The document is available

on the ABC website, ABCop.org. =

SaveTime

Renew Online

QUESTIONS?Contact

mce@abcop.org or 703-836-7114

Go Green

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Virtual Career Expo

THOSE considering joining the profes-

sion can take advantage of the NCOPE Virtual Career Expo. The Expo matches prospective candidates with employers looking for qualified, certified O&P profes-sionals. We will have a virtual booth and mate-rials at this year’s expo to help prospective certification candidates understand our role in the profession. Check out the details at NCOPE.org. =

November is a busy month for O&P!Healthcare Compliance & Ethics Week

SUPPORT and participate

in the Healthcare Compliance & Ethics week spon-sored by AOPA and the Health Care Compliance Asso-ciation (HCCA). As cornerstones of our mission, compliance and ethics is a big deal for us. We encourage you to check out the detailed information offered at this event.

Friday

1Sunday-Saturday

3–9

CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR AT THE BACK OF THIS ISSUE FOR EVEN MORE HAPPENINGS IN O&P!

It’s a great way to show employees and the business community at large that these topics matter to your company too. Learn more at AOPAnet.org.=

WHAT’SHAPPENINGO&PIN

Catch a Wave ~J OIN US in San Diego for the

AOPA National Assembly, Sept. 25-28. Stop by our booth #949 and say hello. We’ll be there to answer your questions about certification, accreditation or continuing education. And, plan to attend Jim Lawson’s work-shop on Saturday to learn what’s new in facility accreditation and compliance. To register, go to AOPAnet.org. =

HEALTHCARECOMPLIANCE

&ETHICS WEEK

#wheresjimabc#CredCast

#abc4op

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Alliance Update

T HE O&P ALLIANCE is examining a troubling issue

that has recently developed from CMS contractor publications.

First, some background. In 2014, the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contrac-tors (DME MACs) issued a joint publication indicating that a custom fabri-cated, externally powered, upper extremity assistive device fell within the DME benefit and should be paid under the capped-rental payment methodology. At that time, the DME MACs stated that claims for these types of devices should be submitted using the DME miscellaneous E code, E1399.

In May 2016, the Pricing and Data Administrative Contractor (PDAC) released a publication about the correct coding of powered exoskeleton devices that stated, “Although these products resemble ‘orthoses’, for Medicare HCPCS

coding purposes brace-like products that exert a powered force across a joint are not coded as orthoses with HCPCS L codes but rather are coded using other HCPCS codes.”

In the fall of 2018, CMS released the 2019 DMEPOS new Code Set. Included in the Code Set were two new codes, L8701 and L8702. These codes were created as a result of an application for new coding for two types of custom fabricated, upper extremity, externally powered

orthoses. This action appeared to signal that CMS and the HCPCS Workgroup recognized that these powered custom fabricated devices were orthoses. However, on December 13, 2019 the DME MACs published a statement that said they have evaluated a specific

custom fabricated upper extremity assistive

device and deter-mined that it falls within the DME benefit category.

This is concerning because

this Medicare contractor is stating that a custom fabricated orthosis should be categorized as a DME item. Until recently the manufacturers of these powered orthoses have taken the main lead in interacting with CMS. The Alliance believes this is an important issue and plans on engaging CMS on this topic and will continue to provide information to educate CMS and its contractors that custom orthoses should not be classified as DME items. =

You’ve Gotta See This! Follow us @abc.opp to get ABC info, podcast alerts, event updates and more.

Catch up on our latest podcast episodes!We’ve got 15 and counting…

New Orthotic Fitter Practice Analysis Report Available

It’s ourBirthday!

71 years

!

T HE LATEST practice analyses for Certified Fitters-or-thotics is now available. This report helps us to deter-mine current trends in the contemporary practice of certified orthotic fitters. We will

use the results to assure that the orthotic fitter credentialing exam is continu-ally relevant for individuals entering the profession. The results will also be used to identify content for in-service and/or continuing education, as well as provide guidance for education programs for curriculum review and/or program self-assessment. “The credentialed individuals who participated in the surveys have provided a great service to their profession,” said Larry Word, CPO, FAAOP, ABC President. “Only those working within the profes-sion can give us a comprehensive and contemporary look into their specific knowledge and skill sets.” The Orthotic Fitter Practice Analysis report is available at ABCop.org.=

Cre

dC

astCorner

LISTEN ONABCop.org—search CredCast or subscribe so you never miss an episode!

COMING IN SEPTEMBER: Exam Prep Resources You Should Know About – Round 2

for Technicians & Fitters

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F ROM IN-DEPTH discussions on continuing education, insights from our most experienced surveyors and several

great interviews with top O&P professionals—there’s lots of valu-able information to help you get the most out of your O&P career.

J IM VISITS nearly 300

students each year to inform them about the ABC certification process and to help prepare them for their next steps toward becoming practitioners. To see where he’s headed next, follow ABC on Instagram @abc.opp and look up the hashtag #wheresjimabc! =

Scholar Holler

D O YOU KNOW an Outstanding O&P Student? 

If so, please encourage them to apply for the ABC/OPERF Student Award for Academic Achieve-ment—a $1,000 cash prize awarded each year to ten exceptional O&P Masters students for their academic excellence! 

Eligible applicants must:q Be enrolled full-time in a

CAAHEP accredited O&P practi-tioner program

q Have completed at least one semester of the program

q Cannot be a previous winner of this award

The deadline for applications is October 1st so spread the word! Visit the OPERF website at operf.org to apply and for more details on the submission criteria and process. =

Speaking of outstanding students…

Practitioner Eligibility Change: FINAL REMINDER

IF YOU GRADUATED from a bachelor’s or

certificate O&P prac-titioner program and have not completed your residency, please be aware that you have until December 31, 2019 to complete your residency and submit your certifica-tion application to ABC. If you have any questions about this change, please contact us at certifica-tion@abcop.org or call (703) 836-7114. =

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Jim with MSOP students at Alabama State University in

Birmingham on June 26th

September

6-7: Prosthetic Clinical Patient Management (CPM) ExamABC Testing Center, Tampa

12-13: Northern Plains Chapter Academy MeetingVadnais Heights, Minn.

25-28: AOPA National AssemblySan Diego

October

1: Application Deadline for December Written & Simulation Exams

7-12: Written and Simulation Certification ExamsOver 350 Locations Nationwide

10-12: NC Chapter AAOP/SC Society of O&P Annual MeetingWilmington, N.C.

18-19: POMAC East Annual MeetingNew York

23-25: New England Chapter Academy MeetingWoburn, Mass.

For further information on these events, please visit ABCop.org or contact us at 703.836.7114.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

330 John Carlyle Street • Suite 210Alexandria, VA 22314-5760Phone: 703.836.7114 • Fax: 703.836.0838ABCop.org

November

1: Residency Completion Deadline for December Written and Simulation Exams

1: Application Deadline for January CPM Exams 

5: Pennsylvania Orthotic Prosthetic Society MeetingHarrisburg

6-8: New Jersey Chapter Academy MeetingAtlantic City

6-9: Pedorthic Footcare Assn. Symposium & ExhibitionLas Vegas

December

31: Practitioner Eligibility Deadline for Residency Completion with Bachelor’s or O&P Program Certificate

Sexual Harassment Resource Guide Available

T HE O&P ALLIANCE, which includes ABC, has developed

a sexual harassment resource guide for the orthotic and prosthetic profession to help guide O&P professionals and further support the O&P community and its patient population. In addition to the Alli-ance Open Letter about Discrimi-nation in O&P, this guide includes relevant materials in various formats such as articles, webinars, videos and presentations along with a list of resources available from other reputable organizations and outlets. To view or download this guide, visit ABCop.org—search: Harassment Guide.=

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

71 years !It’

s our birthday!

It’s that Time! ABC Annual

Renewal—Pg 1

Student News—

Pg 5CredCast Corner—Pg 4

What’s Happening in O&P—Pg 2

SaveTime

Renew Online

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