During the course of treatment for your injury or condition, your physician may prescribe a brace, splint, or ambulatory aid (such as a walker or crutches).  We are happy to give you, the patient, the option of obtaining this prescribed equipment here at Watauga Orthopaedics.  The braces and splints we carry are mainly hand selected by our physicians so you are guaranteed that you will receive exactly what your physician has prescribed without having to search around to obtain the item.

As a courtesy we can bill most insurance for braces, splints, and DME items on behalf of you, the patient.  Typically with most insurance if there is a deductible, then the cost of the brace or DME item will contribute towards the deductible until that amount is met.  Some insurance do cover a majority of the cost of a brace or DME item, but unfortunately most insurance do not cover all costs involved and some insurance have no orthotics/DME coverage.  Even with Medicare, some but not all items are covered.  Medicare typically pays 80% of their fee schedule for covered items, however some items such as arm slings, cast shoes, post-op shoes, and some shoe inserts are non-covered items by Medicare.  We will strive to notify you of these types of items before you choose to receive them.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did I get only one brace but my insurance was billed for more than one code?
A:  Even though many braces appear in one piece, some braces are billed in components.

Q: Why can’t braces and items be returned to Watauga Orthopaedics?
A:  It is against FDA regulation to return any prescription product once dispensed unless being returned to the manufacturer for defect.

As always, we want to ensure that you receive the best care for your injury or illness. Please do not hesitate to contact or ask us for explanation regarding a brace that your physician prescribes.

Additional Information

If you have additional questions about our Orthopaedic bracing services please contact us.

Phone: 423-282-9546
Fax:     423-282-9559
E-mail: orthobracing@wataugaortho.com