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Excerpt from the 1999 Appropriations Bill for Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

The Committee is aware that the inspector general has issued reports identifying  a direct correlation between supplier training in the fabrication, fitting, and delivery of orthotic devices and consistent, appropriate billing of orthotics to Medicare. Medicare could realize significant savings through improved billing practices and the development of utilization criteria establishing required minimum supplier qualifications, including provider training and expertise, to receive Medicare payment for orthotic and prosthetic care. Therefore, the Committee urges HCFA to implement the OIG recommendations in report OEI-02-95-00380 to undertake a demonstration of the savings achievable through the establishmnet of minimum supplier qualification to utilize HCPCS codes for customized orthotic and prosthetic devices. The Committee expects to receive a report from HCFA on its progress on this recommendation by January 1.