TRENDS

In 2005:

• Medicare approved payment for nearly two million orthotic services for more than $358 million.

• The most prevalent orthotic service approved by Medicare was for a custom fabricated, jointed ankle brace. Medicare approved payment for 35,000 braces at a value of over $21 million.

• Medicare allowed nearly 2.5 million prosthetic services for $610 million.

• The most prevalent Medicare approved prosthetic component was for a specific type of a basic, lower-limb prosthesis. Medicare approved payment of more than $55 million for these components.

• More than $60 million in government funds has been earmarked for research related to orthotic and prosthetic needs by veterans.
  — The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association