Volume I, Issue I
August 2007

Message From President

WSOPP has a path in recognizing that Orthotist, Prosthetist and Pedorthist are colleagues. Discover that all of us have the same concerns in our practice. The members of our society are targeting, preparing and organizing to address our combined scope of practice. All activities are quality of care for our patients and the communities we serve.

I encourage all colleagues, members and non-members, to bring your problems and desires to our society. If your concerns are not already targeted, your issues will be brought before the Board of Directors.

Suppliers have been active and support WSOPP. We are appreciative of their participation and will always support their concerns.

I welcome each of you, at any time, to present your ideas, comments or concerns to me. I am committed to furthering the interest of the WSOPP. Each member's participation and ideas are essential to the continued success of the WSOPP.

Sincerely,

Jake R. Wood C.P., F.A.A.O.P.
President of W.S.O.P.P.
10506 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414-257-2727
414-257-9898 (fax)

Calendar of Events

Semi-Annual Membership Meeting

Inside this issue

• UPDATE: Medicaid Committee
• Medicaid Meeting
• UPDATE: Licensure Committee
• By-law changes
• UPDATE: Parity Committee
• Voting
• Sponsors/ Members

UPDATE: Medicaid Committee

The Medicaid committee has been under the direction of Greg Gruman, CP of Winkley Corp since the middle of 2007. Prior to that time Dennis Janisse, CPed lead this group.

The goals of the Medicaid committee have remained the same since the groups inception. The goals of WSOPP on Medicaid issues have been determined to be the following:

• Communicate with Medicaid with a unified voice
• Improve the understanding of Medicaid providers in terms of coverage, medical necessity and prior authorizations
• Improve the general knowledge/ understanding of Medicaid personnel on the services provided by the orthotist, prosthetist and pedorthist
• Communicate with Medicaid and Wisconsin state practitioners on a regular basis to keep everyone informed of any changes.
• Work to with Medicaid to assist in providing the best care possible to the Medicaid recipient.

On March 13, 2007 WSOPP met with Medicaid representatives to discuss the issues with Medicaid that have been brought to WSOPP's attention.

This meeting proved to be very productive. WSOPP has secured a contact with Medicaid and hopes to bring Pam Hoffman in to speak to WSOPP members at a future semi-annual membership meeting.

Medicaid Committee Members

Following are WSOPP members that are active on the Medicaid committee:

If you would like to join the Medicaid committee, or have questions, comments or concerns regarding this committee, please contact the chairman:

Greg Gruman
773-546-1177
ggruman@winkley.com

WSOPP meets with WI Medicaid

On March 13, 2007 representatives for WSOPP met with the Medicaid Prior Authorization Unit, including Pam Hoffman. Issues regarding obtained PA's were discussed, including prior authorization submissions, qualifications and updated code implementation.

Ms Hoffman reported that all providers are given a DME Handbook, however it is dated 1992 and is outdated. There is also a newsletter that is published regularly and is available at www.dhfs.state.wi.us

PA's were discussed at length and Ms Hoffman discussed the issue of "medically necessary." Ms Hoffman requested that providers pay special attention to completing the requested information and to provide as much detail as possible including past history and potential function with the device, along with any pictures or articles to support your request.

Ms Hoffman also explained that it is not their purpose to deny every PA however, there are budget limitations that restrict funding availability.

New code implementation was also discussed. It was explained that Medicaid does not implement new codes at the beginning of the year as is the case with Medicare; it takes them longer to update their

UPDATE: Licensure Committee

WSOPP Licensure Committee members have been working under the following goals for 2007:

• Promote Consumer protection in Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic care
• Establish minimum educational standards for competency of practitioners
• Establish the disciplines of Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics as recognized professionals in the State of Wisconsin
• Provide and avenue to be heard by Wisconsin law-makers on issues that pertain to our profession
• Support regulations that establish limits to who may provide our services and penalties for those who violate them

The licensure committee has been working to obtain copies of bills that have either passed or failed to pass through other state legislative processes. The group has been working on analyzing each proposed bill in terms of Wisconsin practices and practitioners desires.

The group will meet again August 7, 2007 to discuss the findings each has found on the bills obtained to date. The group also plans to begin composing a first draft of a Wisconsin Licensure bill.

Licensure Committee Members

Following are WSOPP members that are active on the Medicaid committee:

If you would like to join the Medicaid committee, or have questions, comments or concerns regarding this committee, please contact the chairman:

Mick Batton, CO
920-725-6200
mbatton@benchmarkmed.com

By-Law Changes Proposed

In this year's elections, active members will be asked to vote on a proposed By-law change. The current language of WSOPP's By-laws reads that "the composition of the Board of Directors shall include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three other elected directors."

The proposed change will add the position of an Immediate Past President. This position will be filled by the out-going President and will be a non-voting member position. The purpose of this position will create an advisor to the President elect.

The proposed language changes will read: "The Board of Directors shall include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three other elected directors. The Immediate Past President shall be a non-voting member and serve in an advisory capacity. The Immediate Past President shall serve until replaced.

UPDATE: Parity Committee

WSOPP has been contacted by the ACA (Amputee Coalition of America) and is prepared to assist with their efforts to establish parity legislation with the state Wisconsin. WSOPP leadership believes that an assistive role is appropriate in that any parity legislation should be a consumer-driven initiative; this also means that WSOPP will not be in a leadership role on this forum.

A state committee is being formed to organize and direct the parity campaign and will meet in September; Dennis Farrell, CP will serve as the WSOPP representative to this committee. A lead activist has also been herself a lower extremity amputee. This committee will also be involved in fund raising efforts, so the cost to WSOPP will be significantly lower then first predicted.

Meanwhile, State Senator Wirch has been contacted by the ACA and is very interested in sponsoring the legislation; other cosponsors are also being contacted so that a draft of the bill can be developed.

WSOPP will be responsible for making recommendations as to the formation of and language within the parity bill. The goal of this special committee is to have a draft of the bill ready to present at WSOPP's October 5th, 2007 Membership Meeting.

As this begins to move forward, the WSOPP Parity Committee and membership will be instrumental in many forms of outreach to our patients, state legislators, community associations and allied health professionals who may assist us in supporting the bill as it move through the legislative process.

Parity Committee Members

Following are WSOPP members that are active on the Medicaid committee:

If you would like to join the Medicaid committee, or have questions, comments or concerns regarding this committee, please contact the chairman:

Dennis Farrell, CP
414-259-1950
dennisfarrellcp@aol.com

History of WSOPP

The Purpose of WSOPP is to establish a professional organization for Orthotists, Prosthetists, and Pedorthists in the State of Wisconsin. Our goals are multifaceted with the primary goal to protect the health and welfare of the residents of the State of professional services of a trained and certified Orthotist, Prosthetist, or Pedorthist.

Originally established in the 1960s under the name of WOPA (Wisconsin Orthotics and Prosthetics Association), which disbanded in the mid-1990s due to a lack of membership participation.

WSOPP legally reformed in 2005 to include orthotists, prosthetists and pedorthists and now has 35 members, 6 corporate members. We are currently working on the issues of Licensure, Parity and Medicaid.

WSOPP 2008 Board Elections

In mid-August, ballots will be mailed to all active WSOPP members asking for your vote in electing officers and a new director. On June 6, 2007 a letter from President Jake Wood, CP went out to all membership calling for nominations for leadership positions. The Nominating Committee Members have composed a ballot including brief biographies of the nominated individuals. Positions open for elections are; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director (3- year term).

Nominated individuals are:

President:

Dennis Janisse, C.Ped

Vice - President:

Dennis Farrell, CP

Secretary:

Mick Batton, CO

Treasurer:

Jim Sajdak, C.Ped

Director (3 Year):

Andrea Jeske, CO

Also on the voting docket is a proposed By-Law change. This change proposes that the position of Immediate Past President be created; this position will be filled by the exiting President who will serve in an advisory manner and be a nonvoting member.

Please watch for the ballot arrive in the mail. All ballots will be collected and tabulated by WSOPP's legal advisor. The results of the election will be announced at the October 5, 2007 meeting at the Best Western Midway Airport, Milwaukee, WI.

Your Assistance is Required Please...

• Do you have patients with limited or no insurance benefits for Orthotic, Prosthetic and/ or Pedorthic services?
• Do you have patients that have life-time maximum benefits that do not even cover the cost of your services?
• Do you have patients that are unable to obtain services to do general non-coverage?
• Do you have patients who chose not to obtain service due to poor insurance coverage and an inability to pay for services?
• Do you hear the complaints of your patients regarding their limited coverage and maximum payable benefits?

WSOPP is currently working with the ACA (Amputee Coalition of America) to develop Parity Legislature in the state of Wisconsin. The legislation will be consumer driven.

WSOPP would like your assistance in compiling a list of patients who have difficulty obtaining services due to insurance issues. Please talk with your patients about WSOPP and inquire if they would like to join the fight for Parity Legislation in Wisconsin to improve their benefit coverage.

WSOPP would like to obtain lists from Wisconsin Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthic practitioners of patients who are willing to assist us or willing to share their story. WSOPP will contact them when we are ready to present our bill.

Please compile a list of patients who agree with us and forward them to WSOPP President.

Jake R. Wood C.P., F.A.A.O.P.
President of W.S.O.P.P.
10506 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414-257-2727
414-257-9898 (fax)

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