OUR HISTORY

The origin of the Virginia Orthotic and Prosthetic Association first took shape in 2007 in response to a request by the Amputee Coalition to help Virginia amputees get the insurance coverage they deserved. The AC first approached Doug Call, CP and asked that he lead the effort in Virginia. Call spent the first year educating legislators, promoting media attention and enlisting amputees to contact their legislators.

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At the time, there was no unified voice to represent Virginia’s amputee population and many legislators seemed to respond better to causes that had some level of professional organization. Seeing this, Call enlisted a seasoned lobbyist and began meeting with other O&P companies four of which agreed to join the campaign, with Virginia Prosthetics.

The four founding members were Albemarle Orthotics and Prosthetics, Excel Prosthetics and Orthotics, The Orthotic & Prosthetic Center and Tidewater Prosthetic Center. Through the efforts of these Virginia based O&P providers and their patients, the Virginia General Assembly finally agreed in 2009 to pass the current mandated offer.

Accompanying the fight for parity and subsequent exposure to the legislative process was the realization that a permanent Virginia O&P association was needed to represent patient rights, encourage professionalism and advice in the regulation of our industry. Today, over half of all Virginia O&P providers belong to VOPA and we encourage anyone who does not yet belong to do so for the benefit of their patients and the professionalism of our industry.