Ohio Passes Orthotics/Prosthetics Licensure Bill Columbus, Ohio Ohio now requires state licensure of those fitting orthotics, prosthetics and pediatric orthotics. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Bob Taft, also establishes a state board to govern licensure.

"We are working to see how it might affect our members," said Kamela Yuricich, executive director of the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers. "We worked well with the [respiratory therapy] board on another licensure issue when the respiratory therapy licensure law was passed, to preserve and distinguish the role of the trained delivery service technician from the respiratory therapist, and I am certain this will be a similar process."

The seven-member board to be appointed by Taft will oversee the licensure process, including application procedures and policies for licensure exams, renewals and fees; standards of professional conduct; approved educational courses and credentials; and penalties for noncompliance. No OAMES members have yet been appointed to the board, Yuricich said.

California Tightens DME Requirements Sacramento, Calif. California at press time in mid-September was moving closer to a single license for home medical equipment providers. The Home Medical Device Retail Facilities Licensing Bill AB1496, sponsored by the California Association of Medical Products Suppliers, was expected to be signed by the end of September by Gov. Gray Davis. "Currently, there are several different permits and/or licenses that providers are required to have depending on the medical equipment they sell, and people have been able to avoid the Medi-Cal fraud radar," said Bob Achermann, executive director of CAMPS. "We have needed a single consolidation effort for the industry, and CAMPS has worked diligently to see this legislation through."

Also pending approval by the governor in California was the Medi-Cal Fraud and Abuse Bill AB 1098, which expands the surety bond requirements for durable medical equipment providers, establishes requirements for billing companies including surety bonds and makes Medi-Cal fraud a felony across the board.

"It is intended to fill holes in prosecuting providers accused of fraud, and CAMPS has been extensively involved in the legislative discussions," Achermann said of the governor-sponsored legislation. Under the new law, Medi-Cal would also have the authority to suspend payments to providers being investigated. If passed, both bills would be effective Jan. 1, 2001.

North Carolina Gets Ready for Licensure Cary, N.C. Under a law scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1, 2002, North Carolina will require all respiratory care workers - not just respiratory therapists - to be licensed. The Respiratory Care Practice Act, signed into law in July, mandates that respiratory therapists, respiratory care practitioners and anyone else providing respiratory care must be licensed by the state or risk committing a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The only exceptions are people who perform support activities, defined as procedures not requiring formal academic training, such as delivery, setup, fitting, instructions for and maintenance of apparatus.

The new respiratory licensure board will consist of 10 members, one appointed by the North Carolina Association for Medical Equipment Services. Two members must be respiratory practitioners. The new law also includes a provision requiring prompt payment by insurers to health care providers. Effective July 1, 2001, it will be mandatory for insurers to pay for health care services within 30 days of the receipt of the claim or pay interest at an annual rate of 18 percent.

Minnesota Group Votes to Join Midwest Association Stillwater, Minn. Members of the Minnesota Association for Home Medical Equipment Services have voted to affiliate with the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services. Now the ball is in MAMES' court.

At press time in early September, its members hadn't voted on whether to accept the Minnesota group. If they vote yes, the legal details would be worked out by boards of both organizations, with the goal for completion set for Jan. 1, 2001.

"[MAMES has] been keeping their members abreast of what's going on, and they seem receptive to the idea," said MAHMES president Curt Merriman."It should be a positive step in strengthening our numbers."