Alabama Prosthetic & Orthotic Association

In these trying times, NAAOP provides this update of its activities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please consult the NAAOP website or contact us directly if you have questions or suggestions. As this threat continues, we ask all NAAOP members and friends to adhere to state and local directives, practice social distancing, and stay as safe as possible.

CARES Act Enacted and Small Business Relief: The third law addressing COVID-19 was enacted on Friday, March 27th. The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains massive employment and economic relief, in addition to resources to combat the virus. The bill contains a $349 billion program intended to help small businesses and nonprofits weather the financial storm. A summary of the health care provisions in the legislation is here and a summary of the small business loan program and other economic provisions is here. We encourage all NAAOP members to explore this important program in order to maintain cash flow and retention of staff.
Advance Medicare Payments Available: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Saturday, March 28 an expansion of its accelerated and advance payment program for Medicare-participating health care providers and suppliers, to ensure they have the resources needed during the COVID-19 national emergency. Accelerated and advance Medicare payments provide emergency funding and address cash flow issues based on historical payments when there is disruption in claims submission and/or claims processing. The payments can be requested by hospitals; doctors; durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers; and others. Advance payments do not have to start being paid back for 120 days but must be repaid within 210 days.

To qualify for accelerated or advance payments, the provider or supplier must:

Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately prior to the date of signature on the provider’s/ supplier’s request form,
Not be in bankruptcy,
Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation, and
Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments.

Medicare will start accepting and processing the Accelerated/Advanced Payment Requests immediately. CMS anticipates that the payments will be issued within seven days of the provider’s request. These are essentially no-interest loans that we hope O&P businesses will take advantage of to help maintain cash flow and their staff at this difficult time. An informational fact sheet on the accelerated/advance payment process and how to submit a request can be found here: www.cms.gov/files/document/Accelerated-and-Advanced-Payments-Fact-Sheet.pdf

NAAOP’s Statement on Orthotists and Prosthetists as Essential Providers: NAAOP issued a statement to all state Governors arguing that orthotists and prosthetists are essential health care providers that need to remain accessible to patients. Based on member feedback, NAAOP reissued the statement to encourage all O&P practices to triage patients and provide care to those most in need while limiting exposure to the virus of patients and O&P personnel. NAAOP believes O&P manufacturers and suppliers are critical to the timely delivery of patient care and should similarly be treated as essential.
COVID-19 and Business Insurance: In an effort to serve as a resource to our members, NAAOP distributed an analysis prepared by the business insurance law firm, Miller Friel, examining ways that covered businesses could assert a claim for business losses due to COVID-19. Most businesses across the US have policies that typically contain a virus exclusion, which makes coverage for COVID-19 losses unlikely. O&P practice owners should examine their specific business insurance policy to confirm whether it contains a virus exclusion in the language and act accordingly.
Request for Prior Authorization Delay: NAAOP has communicated our concern to CMS on the need to postpone implementation of prior authorization for six lower limb prosthetic codes beginning May 11th in four states: California, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania. NAAOP believes this is no time to impose new documentation requirements on physicians, therapists, and others on the health care team that could have the effect of delaying (or even denying) patient care. Health care providers should be focused on combating the virus, not on new documentation requirements. NAAOP seeks a 6-month to one-year postponement of the prior authorization program.
OTS Competitive Bidding: The financial impact of COVID-19 will have ripple effects across all business sectors for at least the next several quarters, and the O&P profession is no exception. For this reason, NAAOP is considering asking CMS to delay competitive bidding of off-the-shelf orthotics, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2021, for at least one year. NAAOP leadership seeks comments from its membership on this potential policy stance.
Request for Prior Authorization Delay: NAAOP has communicated our concern to CMS on the need to postpone implementation of prior authorization for six lower limb prosthetic codes beginning May 11th in four states: California, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania. NAAOP believes this is no time to impose new documentation requirements on physicians, therapists, and others on the health care team that could have the effect of delaying (or even denying) patient care. Health care providers should be focused on combating the virus, not on new documentation requirements. NAAOP seeks a 6-month to one-year postponement of the prior authorization program.
OTS Competitive Bidding: The financial impact of COVID-19 will have ripple effects across all business sectors for at least the next several quarters, and the O&P profession is no exception. For this reason, NAAOP is considering asking CMS to delay competitive bidding of off-the-shelf orthotics, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2021, for at least one year. NAAOP leadership seeks comments from its membership on this potential policy stance.

COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES

Alabama Small Business Development Center Network.
Click here.
Alabama Department of Public Health.
Click here.

Most Orthotic & Prosthetic Patient Care Facilities are Small Businesses. Here are some helpful links.

State of Alabama Updates

March 23, 2020---Governor Kay Ivey
State of Emergency Supplemental Proclamation: COVID-19 and State Tax Obligations
March 20, 2020---Alabama Department of Public Health
420-4-1.13 ER Statewide Social Distancing Requirements in Response of COVID-19

March 6, 2020---Alabama Department of Public Health
Emergency Rule re: Alabama Notifiable Diseases/Conditions

National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has drafted for distribution to all P&O providers and state and local agencies.
It is meant to be used if someone has a question about O&P services being considered essential and therefore we should be able to continue to provide our services as needed.

Welcome

Alabama Prosthetic & Orthotic Association is committed to providing continuing education of the highest standard.

Newsletters, seminars, workshops and publications keep members and industry colleagues up to date on all matters relevant to the profession including the latest clinical and technical research and development. APOA, its members, volunteers and consultants work on your behalf on issues involving federal and state government.

APOA is actively involved in a wide range of issues affecting Alabama orthotists and prosthetists, pedorthists, mastectomy fitters, orthotic fitters, and therapeutic shoe fitters including licensure, professional standards and reimbursement.

Past Meeting Dates

APOA 2009
July 8-July 11, 2009
Birmingham Marriott
Birmingham, AL

APOA 2010
July 15-July 17, 2010
Birmingham Marriott
Birmingham, AL

APOA 2011
July 21-July 23, 2011
Birmingham Marriott
Birmingham, AL

APOA 2012
July 19-21, 2012
Birmingham Marriott
Birmingham, AL

APOA 2013
July 11-13, 2013
Montgomery Renaissance
Montgomery, AL

APOA 2014
July 17-19, 2014
Embassy Suites Montgomery
Montgomery, AL

APOA 2015
July 16-18, 2015
Embassy Suites Montgomery
Montgomery, AL

APOA 2016
August 4-6, 2016
Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover
Hoover, AL

APOA 2017
July 19-22, 2017
Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Hoover, AL

APOA 2018
July 9-11, 2018
Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover
Hoover, AL

APOA 2019
July 11-13, 2019
Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover
Hoover, AL

FAQ

Q.
What's the difference between the Alabama Prosthetic & Orthotic Association (APOA) and the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists & Orthotists (ASBPO)?

A.
The APOA is a non-profit professional association.

The ASBPO is a State Board created by the State Legislature of Alabama.
The Legislature declares that in order to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Alabama against the unauthorized, unqualified, and improper administration of prosthetic and orthotic care, it is necessary to provide for the licensing and regulation of persons offering prosthetic and orthotic services to the public.

Alabama Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists
Post Office Box 1052
Montgomery, AL 36101

Ronald E. Ezell, Executive Director
Phone: 334-420-1111
Fax: 334-262-8811
Email Address
Office Address: 441 High Street, Suite 113
Montgomery, AL 36104
Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday)

APOA
info@alabamapoa.org
256-346-4326 phone