Category Archives: MarketMechanics
April 2018
OIG report on outpatient physical therapy claims may be flawed: CMA, APTA
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) are challenging a recent Officer of the Inspector General (OIG) report, pointing out how flawed processes and misinterpretations are coloring the findings. Continue reading
April 2018
SMU students and faculty serve San Ysidro with free clinical services
Seventeen Samuel Merritt University (SMU) students and 5 faculty nurse practitioners undertook in March their 10th annual medical mission to San Ysidro, CA, located along the Mexican border. Continue reading
April 2018
Physical therapists invited to DMU’s 2018 Stroke Camp
Physical therapists with post-stroke clients are invited to participate in Des Moines University (DMU) College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery’s seventh annual stroke camp on the DMU campus August 20 to 24. Clinicians can earn 4 continuing education contact hours. Continue reading
April 2018
NYSPMA releases report on value of podiatric services to patients
A report funded by the New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA) has found that expanding podiatry’s role may impact healthcare in the state by decreasing the number of hospital admissions, costs of long-term care, and prescription of opioids in target… Continue reading
April 2018
Transplantation may be effective for some knee cartilage repair
Research presented March 10 at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) Specialty Day in New Orleans has shown that osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) is a valuable and successful approach for isolated femoral condyle lesions, which account for 75% of the cartilage repair procedures performed in the knee joint. Continue reading
March 2018
Pediatric Orthopedic treatments: “Choosing Wisely”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has added several recommendations to limit the use of certain imaging, ultrasound, and orthotics in special circumstances in children. The list, which has been added to the… Continue reading
March 2018
RFPs for O&P research grants
The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is accepting proposals for separate research grants for clinical research on lower-limb related issues. The proposal submission deadline is April 30. Continue reading
March 2018
AACPT Pledges $90K to Foundation for Physical Therapy
The Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy (AACPT) pledged more than $90,000 to the Foundation for Physical Therapy to support 2 research grants related to acute care physical therapy. Continue reading
March 2018
Ottobock Kenovo knee joint under FDA recall
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class 2 device recall of the Ottobock Kenovo prosthetic knee joint, model 3C60=ST and model 3C60. Continue reading
March 2018
Grant to study TBI-related lower extremity deficits
Kessler Foundation researchers Kiran Karunakaran, PhD, and Karen Nolan, PhD, have received a $35,000 grant from New Jersey Health Foundation to study the cortical changes in children and young adults with lower extremity motor deficits caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Continue reading
March 2018
WPI researchers developing App to track and analyze chronic wounds
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have received a 4-year, $1.6 million National Institutes of Health grant to develop a smart phone app that will allow patients and their caregivers to track and assess chronic wounds, including… Continue reading
March 2018
EHI acquires My Foot Doctor; seeks private equity backing
Atlanta-based Extremity Healthcare Inc. (EHI) has acquired My Foot Doctor, with locations in Cleveland, Lenoir City, and Athens, Tennessee. The acquisition was made through EHI’s clinical division in Tennessee, Advanced Foot Care. Continue reading
March 2018
Open Sandals Accommodate Orthotics
Cabo Comfort Sandals specializes in open sandal, thong, and slider styles that allow the wearer to use their own orthotic inserts. The new sandals feature a pocket in the sole to fit the user’s orthotics. The patented sandals feature leather uppers and polyurethane soles… Continue reading
March 2018
AAOP headquarters move to Bethesda
The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists has relocated its headquarters from Washington DC to Bethesda, Maryland, effective March 1. The address is 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 760, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone and fax numbers remain unchanged. Continue reading
February 2018
Therafirm/Knit-Rite receive state award
Therafirm, Hamlet, NC, and its parent company, Knit-Rite, Kansas City, KS, received North Carolina’s Top Rural Exporter Award, one of five awards sponsored by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and presented by Governor Roy Cooper at a ceremony in the Governor’s Mansion on January 31. Continue reading
February 2018
PathMaker receives funding for noninvasive device development
PathMaker Neurosystems, Boston, MA, announced it has received a funding award from the New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC) to support development of PathMaker’s MyoAmplifier™ system to treat paralysis and weakness due to damaged neuromotor pathways. Continue reading
February 2018
OIG to examine billing for OTS orthoses
The US Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) will examine the extent to which Medicare beneficiaries are being supplied certain off-the-shelf orthotic devices without visiting the referring physician within 12 months prior to their orthotic. Continue reading
February 2018
FollowKnee to develop 3D-printed artificial knee joints
Brest, France-based FollowKnee has been awarded a €7.9 million grant by the French national research agency to use 3D scanning and printing techniques to create a better artificial knee joint design and develop a new approach to production. The 3D printing will be conducted by Rennes, France-based SLS, known for producing… Continue reading
February 2018
Agility Health to sell US assets
Agility Health Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, has agreed to sell 100% of its US-based assets to Alliance Physical Therapy Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, Tampa, FL, a portfolio company of New York-based asset management firm GPB Capital Holdings. Continue reading
February 2018
Legislation: O&P clinician notes
The clinical notes of orthotists and prosthetists will again be recognized as part of a patient’s medical record to determine reasonable and medical necessity of O&P devices—a change that was included in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution passed by Congress February 9. Continue reading
February 2018
DJO to pay $7.62 million for subsidiary’s “assumptive selling”
DJO Global (DJO), Vista, CA, has agreed to pay $7.62 million to resolve allegations that its now-defunct subsidiary, Empi, Shoreview, MN, submitted false claims to TRICARE for excessive, unnecessary transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrodes that TRICARE beneficiaries did not need or use. Continue reading
February 2018
APTA courses included in aPTitude CE resource
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) have partnered to bring APTA’s Learning Center continuing education offerings to FSBPT’s online system, aPTitude. The site allows physical therapists (PT) and PT assistants to… Continue reading
February 2018
PT licensure compact to begin mid-2018
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) has set mid-2018 as the go-live date for the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, an agreement among member states to improve access to physical therapy (PT) services by increasing the ability of eligible providers to work in… Continue reading
February 2018
AAOS welcomes chief education strategist
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has appointed Anna Salt Troise as its new chief education strategist. In this role, Troise will direct all AAOS education and peer-reviewed publishing activities, as well as its newly implemented strategy.
February 2018
Podiatric coding expert Harry Goldsmith dies
Harry Goldsmith, DPM, a noted coding expert and consultant to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Health Policy and Practice department, died February 7. Goldsmith was instrumental in the development of the APMA Coding Resource Center, among other efforts that supported the APMA.
