In 2009, the American Board for Certification in
Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Inc. (ABC) experienced growth in its
credentialing and facility accreditation programs, according to its 2009 Annual
Report.
The publication, which provides both a summary of
ABC’s work in 2009 and insight into its current efforts, illustrated each
of ABC’s five core departments, providing statistical analysis and
highlighting ABC’s contribution to the profession.
Robert S. Lin, CPO, FAAOP, immediate past president of
ABC’s board of directors, told O&P Business News that
ABC’s greatest achievement in 2009 was its ability to process nearly 3,000
facility accreditation applications and survey more than 2,700 facilities in
order to meet the mandatory accreditation deadline for post-mastectomy,
pedorthic and durable medical equipment suppliers.
“ABC and its survey team made certain that all who
applied for accreditation by the deadline were surveyed and able to continue
Medicare billing — a tremendous feat,” he said.
In the report, ABC provided an overview of the
organization’s year by the numbers. In 2009, ABC exceeded all previous
records for the number of facilities applying for accreditation: 6,323
facilities applied or renewed their existing accreditation, a 450% increase
compared to applications received in 2008. They ended the year with 7,548
accredited facilities, a 305% increase from 2008. ABC added 1,392 newly
certified individuals to its family — a 56% increase from 2008.
“The accomplishment of our accreditation department
last year sets the stage for continued success in 2010,” Lin said.
