NegReg: Are Consumers Adequately Represented?

By Judith Otto

In December 2000 Congress passed the Benefits Improvement Act (BIPA), which, among other provisions, aims to protect patients from receiving orthotic and prosthetic care from unqualified providers.

The Negotiated Rulemaking (NegReg) Committee has been assembled to assist Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson in the task of devising rules and regulations to implement the legislation.

Concerns have been expressed about the lack of appropriate NegReg Committee representation by patient advocacy groups. Although the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has a place on the committee, it cannot adequately represent the concerns of amputees, stated Tony Barr, president of the Barr Foundation, which has requested a seat on the committee.

Morris Gallo, CPO, who has suggested to the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) that it should participate on the committee, agreed that consumers are not being appropriately represented. "The ACA said it didn't feel it was qualified," Gallo added.

Brad Ruhl, ACA board member and chairperson of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, responded that this issue was discussed at length. "ACA's perception was that the NegReg Committee will be primarily addressing an orthotic issue, with its major concern focusing on who will be deemed qualified to fit custom orthoses," Ruhl said. In view of this, the ACA board decided that this was not an appropriate place to allocate ACA resources. "If this situation changes, we would certainly be prepared to adjust our approach," he added.

"It's not that we're not concerned," agreed Paddy Rossbach, RN, ACA president and CEO. "But we must be fiscally responsible. Being seated at the table for the entire process requires the presence of two people at two days of meetings each month."

Ruhl notes that the ACA is convinced that the interests of amputees will be well-served by several prosthetic provider representatives currently on the committee. Rossbach also mentioned alternate arrangements to keep in the loop, including reports from an organization sitting on the committee and possible teleconferences with the conveners.

	Competitive Bidding: Can Small Suppliers Survive? - October 2006 Feature
	O&P: Failing To Protect ‘Qualified’ Status through Licensure? - September 2003 DC Direct
	NegReg Crashes: Why? O&P's Battle Continues - September 2003 Susie Funkhouser reports on what happened at the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meetings, why consensus could not be reached, and where the O&P field stands now on this important issue. DC Direct
	Neg Reg: We Have Met the Enemy, and It Is Us! - May 2003 Perspective
	Competitive Bidding May Affect Up to One-Third of Orthotic Products - July 2002 From the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP)
	NegReg: NOMA at Work - July 2002 DC Direct
	Competitive Bidding - Does Anyone Win? - August 2002 Co-Chair, Government Relations Committee National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP)

Table Of Contents - July 2002

	Advocacy: A Win-Win Proposition What consumer advocacy has done for prosthetics and orthotics is similar to what occurred in the automobile industry in the mid-20th century. It has raised the bar for better technology and higher standards of care.
	From the Editor
	Amputee Advocacy: What’s Needed?
	CMS: Expedite 'Crosswalking' to Prevent Coding Hassles DC Direct
	NegReg: NOMA at Work DC Direct
	Century College O&P Students Form Unique Organization Education Outlook
	A Call to Expand and Improve the Advanced Science Content of O&P Curricula I propose that the advanced science requirement in O&P curricula should be expanded and the content improved. Education Outlook
	Physical Therapy: Schools Take a Hit O&P is not alone in its concern over declining school enrollment.
	AOPA Seminars Offer 20.5 CE Credits Industry Insight
	MCO Closed Provider Panels: Can They Be Opened? What if you, as an O&P provider, are confronted by managed care organizations' (MCOs') closed provider panels? Cutting Edge
	Fabricating a Flexible Brim Socket with a Rigid Distal End Shop Talk
	NegReg: Are Consumers Adequately Represented? Perspective
	Sneak Peek: Fillauer to Offer Innovative Orthotic Technology: SPL Orthotic Knee Joint Innovations
	Consumer Empowerment Grows in Developing Countries Salute!
	Provider Qualification Position Statement Exclusively Online
	Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Members Exclusively Online
	Competitive Bidding May Affect Up to One-Third of Orthotic Products From the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP)
	From the Editor Viewpoints