NAAOP Breece Fellow Elijah Brummond, center, with health care and O&P stakeholders in Powers’ main conference room.
Powers recently hosted a National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) stakeholder luncheon focused on Medicare amputee transitions in care. Coordinated by NAAOP Breece Fellow Elijah Brummond, the hybrid event brought together over 30 participants representing dozens of organizations across the health care and orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) communities.
Current literature indicates that a significant gap in care often occurs during the transition from acute medical treatment to prosthetic rehabilitation. A General Accounting Office (GAO) study found that only 31% of Medicare beneficiaries with lower limb loss use a prosthesis to ambulate. Despite these concerning statistics, research shows that timely access to prosthetic limb care following amputation makes a measurable difference in patient outcomes and long-term cost to Medicare. Key studies demonstrate the role of timely prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation therapy in restoring mobility, function, and quality of life.
The luncheon centered on identifying challenges in post-amputation care transitions, discussing O&P policies that affect timely access to quality care, and exploring potential solutions. By bringing together stakeholders from across the health care and O&P communities, the event helped foster dialogue that NAAOP hopes will continue and lead to meaningful progress in addressing gaps in patient care.
About NAAOP
The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting public policy that supports the interests of the O&P community. Since 1987, the NAAOP has helped to shape positive results in healthcare legislation and regulation through strong government relations advocacy and education of policymakers. The NAAOP also provides O&P patients, practitioners and business owner members with ongoing representation in Washington. to learn more about NAAOP, visit https://www.naaop.org/