The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association has reported that Congress has accepted a proposal by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to include in the defense portion of the newly enacted 2014 budget bill a provision that instructs the Department of Defense to invest $10 million in the coming fiscal year to support new outcomes research initiatives on O&P research topics.
AOPA worked with Sen. Durbin toward developing funding support for both new appropriated funding for outcomes research in O&P and new appropriated funding to support educational advances for new O&P masters’ programs, as well as increased funding for existing O&P programs, according to a press release.
AOPA’s lobbying efforts will continue to focus on congressional officials, DOD officials and others to suggest some of the key areas where these funds would be particularly useful, and to ensure DOD officials implement these funds in a manner that is consistent with Sen. Durbin’s statements introducing and describing this provision.
