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The O&P EDGE Magazine - OPEDGE.COM magazine MAGAZINE -- Qualitative Research April 2020 Cutting-edge information for the prosthetics, orthotics, pedorthics, and allied healthcare professions. More... Current Issue Archives Product Showcases Artículos En Español Advertisers' Index Subscribe Contact Us MAGAZINE -- product directory O&P facilities classifieds resources RESOURCES -- Amplitude's Guide to Living With Limb Loss Information and resources designed to help people navigate the physical, emotional, financial, and social transitions they may experience following an amputation. More... 2017 Salary Survey The only salary survey for O&P professionals—brought to you exclusively by The O&P EDGE. More... EDGE Marketing Services Marketing your practice is now fast, easy and affordable! More... Continuing Education Videos Useful Links O&P Library Shop O&P Marketing Services Academy Today Amplitude Magazine RESOURCES -- calendar PECOS SEARCH OANDP-L view the current issue past issues subscribe for free Hot Off the Press Hanger Acquires Scheck & Siress Hanger, Austin, Texas, has acquired Scheck & Siress, headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Hanger released a statement on the acquisition: "We do not generally comment on specific tuck-in acquisitions. We have tremendous respect for Scheck... Prosthetic Design Team Wins Award, Partners With O&P Provider Students at Indiana University won an innovation award for design of an upper-limb prosthesis that replicates the most frequently used human grasps. The project, Modular 3D-Printed Elastomeric Prosthetics (M3DE Pro), was designed to make upper-lim... CMS Adopts Temporary Policy for the CERT Program The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will not send documentation request letters to or conduct phone calls with providers or suppliers to request medical documentation as part of the Medicare Comprehensive Error Rate Tes... AOPA to Hold Virtual Policy Forum May 6 The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) will hold its 2020 Virtual Policy Forum beginning at 1 p.m. ET on May 6. AOPA cancelled its annual forum in Washington DC that was scheduled for May 5-6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Survival Rates Vary Among Lower-limb Amputees with Diabetes While amputations are associated with reduced long-term survival in patients with diabetic foot disease, there is little long-term survival data in published literature, according to a report published online in the journal Endocrine. The report's... Bionic P&O Names New Leadership and Staff, Announces Purchase Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics, headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, announced several additions to its leadership and clinical staff. The company also announced that Monroe BioTechnology, with facilities in Green Bay and Appleton, Wisconsin,... O&P Agencies, Associations Express Support in ‘We Are United’ Video O&P agencies and associations have joined together in a collective voice to show support for the O&P profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanger To Report 1Q Earnings May 8 Hanger, Austin, Texas, will report its financial results for the first quarter (1Q) ended March 31, after the stock market closes on Thursday, May 7. Hanger's management team will host a conference call with the financial community to discuss the... 2MWT Measures Mobility in Lower-limb Amputees A research team established reference values for the two-minute walk test (2MWT) distance and gait speed in people with a lower-limb amputations who are prosthetic ambulators. They also found significant differences in the 2MWT performance between... O&P Practices Benefit From Stimulus Funding: Check Your Medicare Account Today The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) released a statement today to alert O&P providers to an important funding benefit included in the CARES Act, summarized below: Today the Centers for Medicare and Med... CPO Featured on Podcast Spencer Doty, CPO, MBA, president of Active Life, headquartered in Glendale, California, was the featured guest on a podcast discussing how O&P businesses can weather the COVID-19 crisis and engage in telehealth. The podcast, episode 26 of "The Or... Letter to the Editor Regarding April Article Dear Editor, We wanted to comment on the article written titled, "Special Report: Covid-19 Impacts O&P Facilities, Distributors" in your April edition. We agree, the recent safety precautions recommended by the World Health Organization and the C... NAAOP Highlights Programs to Help Offset COVID-19 The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has released its latest webcast in which Peter W. Thomas, JD, details two new programs designed to help O&P businesses offset the financial burdens brought on the CO... WillowWood Furloughs Some Employees WillowWood, Mount Sterling, Ohio, will furlough a significant number of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation improves, WillowWood expects to bring those employees back. WillowWood will also continue to remain focused on pro... CMS Suspends Medical Reviews The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended most Medicare Fee-For-Service medical reviews during the public health emergency period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes pre-payment medical reviews conducted by Medicare Admi... 2020 NAAOP Fellowship Postponed Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has postponed its Fellowship program until the summer of 2021. The NAAOP Fellowship selection committee and board previously announced... CMS Postpones O&P Prior Authorization, Makes Policy Changes The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will pause the prior authorization program for the national Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). Prior authorization for six lower-limb prosth... DME MACs, AOPA Clarify Device Replacement Waivers On March 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it was permitting waivers regarding replacement of Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) to help Medicare beneficiaries impacted by the COV... Financial Relief Package Offers Support to O&P The CARES Act, a $2 trillion financial relief package in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the healthcare sector, has been passed by the U.S. Congress. The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) summa... AOPA Advocates in COVID-19 Legislative Efforts The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) said it has been advocating on behalf of its members to ensure that the needs of O&P practitioners, suppliers, and patients are considered when drafting relief legislation in response to the... Performant Suspends New ADRs Performant, the national Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) for Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) claims, announced that it has suspended the issuance of any new Additional Documentation Request (ADR) l... Update: Össur Donating Swabs for COVID-19 Testing Össur, Reykjavik, Iceland, is donating 20,000 testing swabs similar to those used to test for COVID-19 that may be usable for the purpose. The number of coronavirus tests being administered in Iceland has decreased daily between March 18 and Marc... Ability P&O Announces COVID-19 Protocol for PA, MD Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, announced that it will keep its Pennsylvania and Maryland facilities closed, but will remain available by appointment to provide emergent services to patients and hospitals. Pa... Help Available to File O&P COVID-19 Insurance Claims The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (...