Fw: Licensing States?

[JR Alessi]

When did licensure become associated with state welfare coverage
for prosthetics?

  The issue of licensure was to establish required minimum
standards of education. By requiring ABC certification we hope to
incorporate their strict code of ethics as well. Right now in many
states a person can hang a shingle outside and call themselves a
Prosthetist. They may or may not have the education to perform
this work. 

  The only restrictions they might encounter will be billing
certain entity's who require certification like the VA and most
suppliers have agreed to only sell product to the certified. Which
is not to say that these people don't get their product by way of
other means. They do and this happens all the time in a number of
unregulated states.

  Licensing insures minimum requirement have been met. It in no
way implies an insurance of quality and has nothing to do with
insurance or welfare coverage.

Joe Alessi