From the Editor - Licensure: Setting O&P Apart
By Miki Fariley Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does
it. Autograph your work with excellence.Author
Unknown
.jpg) Licensure helps authenticate a profession and in
many industries is a hallmark of recognized expertise. For
instance, what the engineering profession says about licensure also
can be applied to orthotics and prosthetics:
"The profession regulates itself by setting high standards for
professional engineers, and by law, many jurisdictions require
engineers to be licensed in order to practice. These requirements
and high standards help protect the public's safety and
welfare"--National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying (NCEES).
Licensure not only protects the welfare of the public, it helps
protect the livelihood of the bearer.
Licensure in O&P got off to a late start relative to other
healthcare professions and it's been traveling a rocky road.
Although there are only about 8,000 credentialed O&P providers,
there are more than 140,000 providers with the right to bill
L-Codes, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS). That's a lot of potential competition.
" Licensure: Setting O&P Professionals Apart from
General Providers," this month's feature article by Judith
Philipps Otto, explores several aspects of the complex issue. In
fact, there are so many aspects to licensure that the reader is
urged to read more in our online exclusives (see links in following
content, or related links in the cover story). What are some possible problems inherent in O&P
licensure? What about states with small populations and few O&P practitioners
to support a licensing board? How can the experience of others in obtaining licensure
help initiatives in states which don't yet have it? The facets of
the issue are many and varied.
To help, the Academy has established a task force on licensure.
You can read about the initiative in "Academy Task Force to Create State Licensure
Guide"
Getting Insurance Paid after Disasters
The unprecedented storm season of 2005 caused many problems for
businesses, as well as loss and grief for many individuals. It
often takes time for business claims to work their way through the
insurance system, but this month's Legal EDGE takes a look at how O&P business
owners can help get their claims paid.
On the Upbeat Side
On the more upbeat side, you will enjoy the story of Kelly Luckett. A Symes amputee since
age two, Kelly was determined to be a marathon runner, saying
emphatically, "If I can't run fast, I'll run far!"
And she has.
And, why does a chicken cross the road? Why, to visit a
prosthetist, of course. You'll enjoy this creative and funny story,
"Prosthetist Keeps Poultry in Motion".
Industry Review
Our news section has received a January facelift directed by our
new managing editor, Tina Eichner. We are aiming to provide more
timely, interesting, and pertinent "news you can use" organized by
subject and addressing topics relevant to your business. Look for
further enhancements to this section in the coming months, and
please e-mail Tina with your content ideas, suggestions, and
comments: tina@opedge.com . This is just one way that for
2006 and beyond, the The O&P EDGE is your primary industry
source. 
Table Of Contents - January 2006
|
