COLUMBIA, S.C.--The National Supplier Clearinghouse offered at least some partial insight last week as to who would constitute a "qualified individual" to sell diabetic footwear.
The issue was raised last year when the NSC posted on its Web site--then quickly retracted--instructions that would have required diabetic shoes to be furnished by a podiatrist or other individual with similar training.
In its April newsletter, the NSC said it would allow providers to sell diabetic shoes if they could show "some type of training." The newsletter added that the Social Security Act states: "The shoes must be fitted and furnished by a podiatrist or other qualified individual (such as a pedorthist or orthotist, as established by the Secretary) ...."
NSC Director Nancy Parker said that CMS has yet to define who would constitute a "qualified individual." In the interim, she explained, the agency has instructed the NSC to "allow suppliers to provide diabetic footwear as long as the supplier can illustrate some type of training has been received."
Parker said some examples of what the NSC has been accepting as proof of training include:
--licensed physical or occupational therapist
--ABC (American Board for Certification in Orthotics and
Prosthetics) or BOC (Board for Orthotists/Prosthetists
Certification)
--certificates from various wholesalers or manufacturers that show
training has been completed on how to measure and fit off-the-shelf
diabetic footwear.
Parker added, however, that "the NSC will not accept this training in lieu of any state licensure requirements."
The NSC's monthly newsletter is posted on its Web site, available by clicking here.