Like a planet in space being assaulted by a storm of asteroids, O&P-both as a profession and as an industry-is being impacted on all sides by a barrage of factors which can change its entire future direction.
Reimbursement and quality of care may be adversely affected by competitive bidding. Three major O&P organizations-AOPA, the Academy, and NAAOP-have asked their members to strongly urge the exemption of O&P from Medicare competitive bidding, a subject we will cover in future issues.
The CMS Negotiated Rulemaking (NegReg) Committee will help decide provider qualifications at the federal level. In turn this may have far-reaching effects on O&P education and licensure. Articles in this issue discuss provider/consumer concerns connected with NegReg.
Consumers of prosthetic and orthotic care likewise are deeply affected by these issues. With that in mind, The O&P EDGE explores amputee advocacy.
And what about education? Edward Neumann, PhD, PE, CP, proposes more advanced science requirements and improved content in the first part of a two-part article. This upgrading would provide knowledge and skill sets difficult or impossible to attain outside a formal NCOPE program, as Dr. Neumann pointed out in "Perspectives," May issue.
Differing but valid opinions exist relative to many issues confronting O&P. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress."
Sound information needs to be a basis for sound thinking. The O&P EDGE is committed to giving you information from a variety of sources and viewpoints. Your thinking and decisions can influence your profession. The future is now.
Correction:
In the Sports Page column in the June 2002 issue, we stated that John Keating lost an arm and a leg in an accident in Switzerland. The accident occurred in Sweden.
