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November / December 2012

Volume 44 , Issue 6

12 | The Pedorthists Are Coming ! The Pedorthists Are Coming !

We ’ re spreading the word and signaling members , vendors , friends and allied healthcare professionals everywhere to start planning your trip to the birthplace of America and our biggest symposium and exhibition yet – BOSTON !

14 | Thank You Little Rock ! Didn ’ t Make It …

By Rob Sobel , C . Ped Like most , I was skeptical when the PFA announced our conference location in Little Rock for 2012 , but I have to say , Little Rock you did not disappoint ! It ’ s not about the destination , which was exceptional , but so much more . Here are the reasons why YOU should make every effort next year to attend the symposium .

18 | What You Need to Know : CMS Standard Documentation Language for Local Coverage Determinations

By PFA Government Affairs Committee In addition to medical record information related errors , numerous errors are identified due to noncompliance with non-medical record documents . These errors can often be avoided by the supplier .

24 | Getting Involved ! Why Is Advocacy Important to You and Your Patient ?

Legislators are influenced by what they know and what they hear , especially from the people they represent . As professionals and practitioners , government regulations and laws have a significant and powerful impact on what we are able to carry out as an organization and the patients we provide for .

28 | If The Shoe Fits ; Document it ! Documentation Requirements for Diabetic Shoes

By John Shero , C . Ped ., CFO , COF If someone gives you the advice , “ If it ’ s not documented it didn ’ t happen ,” listen to them . Without a clean claim , you can never be assured you will be getting paid . So what is a ‘ clean claim ’?

32 | The Medical Device Tax and Pedorthics

By PFA Government Affairs Committee There has been a great deal of concern about the applicability of the tax to devices that are dispensed by pedorthists . The implementation of this requirement describes the circuitous route that essentially exempts pedorthic devices from the tax during this phase of the regulatory process .

36 | What You Need to Know About Accountable Care Organizations ( ACOs )

By PFA Government Affairs Committee Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( PPACA ), health care providers will have a better opportunity to coordinate better care for Medicare patients and individual patients allowing for slower growth in healthcare costs while meeting quality standards of care by putting the patient first .

38 | L3XXX Coalition Agrees On Several Coding Descriptor Interpretations

The L3XXX Coalition , made up of the PFA , APMA , AOPA and PFOLA have agreed to a uniform set of interpretations of the coding descriptions of several L-series codes . Their work efforts have made descriptors more understandable to practitioners .

6 From the President

8 PFA News

40 Industry News

49 Advertiser Index

Cover Photo : © iStockphoto . com / Jeff Banke

Current Pedorthics November / December 2012 3