U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will improve access to critical orthotic and prosthetic care for Medicare beneficiaries across the country.
Under current Medicare requirements, beneficiaries are at risk of receiving orthotic and prosthetic devices without the necessary services and customization required for the best use. The bill will clarify the law and permit Medicare beneficiaries who require prosthetics and orthotics to receive these important services.
“The last thing orthotics and prosthetics patients should have to worry about are unnecessary hurdles impacting access to quality care. I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill that will reduce waste and fraud in the Medicare system and remove unneeded regulations that hinder access to prosthetic and orthotic devices,” said Daines.
The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act ensures that Medicare beneficiaries have access to clinically appropriate, individualized care for orthotic and prosthetic devices—supporting both better health outcomes and patient independence.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Prevent fraud by prohibiting “drop shipping” of devices for which patients should see their provider in order to be fitted.
- Exempt orthotists and prosthetists from more restrictive policies that apply to them but not other health care providers in order to provide non-custom devices.
- Ensure Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to a replacement device when a provider determines replacement is necessary based on certain conditions.
Read the bill text HERE.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins