Welcome to the website for the State Board of Orthotics, Prosthetics, & Pedorthics.

New information will be added frequently to keep you up-to-date with the business of the Board and informed regarding questions about licensure.

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Public Rules Hearing Update:

A Public Hearing regarding the amendment of one rule was held as noticed on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 10:00am. Please visit our Rule Review page for more information on the language updates or email us to add your comments to the public record.  The Record of the Hearing has been posted; the evidence offered and accepted will be listed; no public comments, testimony or evidence has been received, but the record will remain open until COB April 30, 2013.  The rule is on the JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review) Agenda for May 20, 2013.  Following JCARR jurisdicton, the rule goes back to the Board at its June meeting for final consideration.

Board Welcomes New Member:

Dr. Animesh Bhatia, DPM practices and lives in Central Ohio. Appointment date: 1/12/13, to a term that began 12/6/2012 and ends 12/6/2015. His DPM was awarded by the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in 1996. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Podiatric Medical Association, and is a Member of the American PMA National Coding Committee.

OPPCE Audit Policy Updated:

OPPCE audit policy has allowed licensees to submit CE transcripts from their credentialing organizations in lieu of direct documentation from CE vendor/supplier. Agency rule language still requires a licensee to maintain OPPCE documentation “for a period of four years beyond the renewal date requiring attestation of OPPCE compliance …” (OAC Rule 4779-9-01). It was determined by the Board that OPPCE audit policy should require original documentation of attendance to support any BOC CE transcript submitted.

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Director Testifies in Support of Budget Recommendations, Professions

Board Director Mark Levy gave the agency’s testimony to a Subcommittee of the Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee Wednesday 02/20/2013, in support of the agency’s full funding recommendation in the budget bill, HB 59.

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Testing Protocol Fact Finding Extended, Concluded

The Board invited Pam Haig, C.Ped, of the Robert M. Palmer Institute for Biomechanics to its December meeting to contribute to the discussion and 5-year review of the rule on license exam vendors. After weighing Ms. Haig's testimony as well as other feedback received on the topic during the rule review process, the Board determined to maintain the testing vendor language unchanged, with ABC (American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics) designated as the accepted test vendor in Ohio.

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Practice Act Review Ongoing

The Board has initiated a proposal and discussion process to outline and identify changes required for the Practice Act to maintain currency with national standards, and to adopt changes long requested by the practitioner community. Among the issues the Board hopes to address through review, revision and legislative process are:

• Update licensing standards language to conform to current and developing national credentialing benchmarks
• Extending licensure to fitters and assistants and provide for a process to address DMEPOS competitive bidding with regard to the OTS/OTC-approved prefabricated devices
• Grant the Board subpoena power to investigate allegations of unlicensed practice
• Provide confidentiality in the complaint process
• Make Continuing Education accrual standards subject to the Board's rulemaking authority so as to allow greater conformity with national credentialing requirements
• Provide an 'escrowed' or inactive license status under certain conditions

To review language under consideration and provide comment to the Board in this regard, email the Board office.

Register for Free Continuing Education!

Researchers at the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC) and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) have announced a new online, continuing education opportunity for all certified orthotists and prosthetists in the United States. Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, (Clinical Research Scientist, CROR, RIC) presents a free, educational module entitled Quality Improvement: What Is It and How Do We Use It?  This 15-minute presentation has been approved by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) for 0.5 continuing education credit.

If you would like to register for the free 0.5 Continuing Education credit please contact Lauri Connelly, Clinical Research Coordinator by email or call (312) 238-1405.

Board Action Bulletpoints - March 6, 2013 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - December 12, 2012 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - September 12, 2012 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - June 13, 2012 Board Meeting

Board Comment on CMS Proposed OTS/OTC Orthotics Designations

Summary of Actions Taken - February 22, 2012 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - December 7, 2011 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - September 7, 2011 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - June 8, 2011 Board Meeting

Summary of Actions Taken - March 9, 2011 & December 1, 2010 Board Meetings

The State Board of Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics
Mark B. Levy, Director
77 S. High St., 18th Floor  •  Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Tel: (614) 466-1157   •  Fax: (614) 387-7347   •  Email Us