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Take the July 2009 Business Conditions Survey
from AOPA in Advance
 The latest installment of AOPA's Business Conditions Survey is now live. This survey asks patient care facilities to compare revenues in July 2009 with July 2008 and asks for feedback about what O&P business owners look for in new employees. Click here to take the July 2009 Business Conditions Survey. If you are the primary business decision maker at your O&P facility and are not receiving these surveys, please email Steven Rybicki at srybicki@AOPAnet.org.
UPDATED: PDAC Announces Coding Decision for Devices Used for Treating Ulcers & Edema
from AOPA in Advance
Current AFO/KAFO policy states that if an AFO L4360, L4386, L4396, or L4398 is used solely to treat edema or for the treatment/prevention of ulcers the GY modifier must be added to the claim, indicating that it is a non-covered service, and to include a brief narrative (i.e. used for ulcer prevention). The GY would also be applied to any replacement soft interfaces provided. Click here to view the full announcement. As a reminder, PDAC coding decisions are binding when it comes to Medicare billing.
Notifying CMS of Surety Bond
from AOPA in Advance
CMS has finally made a determination with regard to notification of the National Supplier Clearinghouse of your bond status. In its most recent update to the Frequently Asked Questions the NSC has clarified that if your company is exempt, you do not need to notify the NSC. Click here to read the FAQ (specifically, see FAQ question 40). If you are not exempt, you must notify the NSC that you have obtained a bond by filling out the appropriate sections of the CMS 855S form and sending them the bond paperwork. See question 23 of the FAQs. Make sure that the NSC receives the paperwork and application before the Oct. 2, 2009 deadline.
Oklahoma City Awards $415,000 to Orthocare Innovations
from OKCBiz
The City of Oklahoma City said Orthocare Innovations received $415,000 in economic development funding. The funding comes from the economic development portion of the 2007 City Bond Election, which allows Oklahoma City to provide performance-based economic incentives for companies that relocate or expand in Oklahoma City. More
An Injured Soldier Re-emerges as Sprinter
from the New York Times
The next medal Jerrod Fields accepts could come in London. Four years after taking his first tentative steps on a prosthetic foot, Fields now sprints so fast that he is considered a top United States prospect for the 2012 Paralympic Games — someone who just might knock off Oscar Pistorius of South Africa. "From the moment I started walking," Fields said recently, "I was ready to run." Fields belongs to the Army's World Class Athlete Program, which allows soldiers to train for the Olympics and the Paralympics while on active duty. More
Eastern Michigan University and College Park Industries Announce Development of iPecs
from Marketwire
When Frank Fedel joined Eastern Michigan University's orthotics and prosthetics master's degree program in 2003, he was surprised by the lack of hard data that could show whether a prosthetic worked the way it was meant to. "I wanted to see something that said, 'OK, we're making a difference," said Fedel, an exercise science lecturer at EMU. "I come from a medical background (cardiac rehabilitation) where we needed to document that we had an outcome at the end of it -- an EKG score that was more normal, a lower heart rate... I thought we (in O&P) needed to move toward a more objective, outcomes-based performance model." So Fedel joined forces with a team of engineers from College Park Industries, a company in Fraser that makes prosthetic feet, to co-invent and develop the Intelligent Prosthetic Endoskeletal Component System (iPecs) -- a device that can shed new light on the forces of everyday life on amputees and their prosthetics. More
Annual Business Meeting Announcement and Officer/Board Nominations
from AOPA in Advance
The 2009 Annual Business Meeting of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association will be held on Monday, Sept. 21, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Ballroom B on Level Six of the Washington State Convention & Trade Center as part of the opening General Session featuring a keynote speech by Jim Abbott at 7:30 a.m. More
College Park's Onyx® - Foot Balanced Energy, Ideal Comfort™.
Integrating a dynamic pylon, the multi-axial Onyx Foot allows active users to demand more. Highly customizable, the Onyx includes adjustable Stride Control for fine-tuning gait. The sleek Onyx delivers balanced energy with ideal comfort and enhanced terrain compliance. Three year warranty. Visit www.college-park.com or call 800.728.7950 for more information.
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Supplier Showcase: Thuasne North America
 Thuasne North America is very pleased to announce the acquisition of Thämert Germany. As a full distributor of Thuasne orthopedic, mastectomy, and sport products to Canada, United States, and Central America; we are excited to expand of our product offering with the addition of Thämert and Silima brands. For more information: www.thuasnena.com or www.thaermert.us.
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Product Showcase: Emotis Element Foot
 The Emotis Element Foot sets itself apart from two spring prosthetic foot designs by adding an innovative 3rd Element. Emotis has designed the Element to support each phase of foot function in the gait cycle—from heel strike, to mid-stance, to toe off. The result is a foot with unsurpassed smoothness, stability and performance throughout the gait cycle. More info
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Product Spotlight:
Promenade Foot for Low Impact Amputees
 The new Promenade™ from Freedom Innovations is designed specifically for low impact amputees. A dynamic heel and easily deflected toe provide near effortless roll-over, helping to reduce gait deviations and preserve energy. The full length sole plate provides a smooth transition from heel strike to toe off. Users achieve more symmetrical and efficient stride lengths allowing them to increase their activity and feel better. More info
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Thuasne North America