Wendy Miller on rewards of helping people, despite insurance

Looking back on her long career, Wendy Miller, who was recently named the recipient of the 2024 Jim Newberry Award for Extraordinary Service, says the biggest challenge O&P professionals face today is insurance companies that have too much power.  

“It’s difficult to get paid for a lot of things and a lot of times suppliers (advance) their own funds and they do that because they are very patient-oriented, so they are going to do that to help their patients,” said Miller, BOCO, LO, CDME. 

Miller retired professionally from The Board of Certification/Accreditation, which selects the Newberry award winner, in December 2023 after 30 years in various roles at the organization. She spoke with HME News about the value of accreditation and certification, and the rewards of helping people. 

HME News: What drew you to the O&P profession? 

Wendy Miller: Just helping people, seeing them go from being really ill to getting better. I can recall one woman who wanted to be able to walk down the aisle for her son’s wedding. We had fabricated two knee braces for her to be able to be able to walk right down that aisle. She was so excited and that made me feel really good. 

HME: Why is accreditation and certification so important for providers? 

Miller: For individuals, certification lets their clients know they had to go through a rigorous process, and they can feel comfortable that the person they are working with has the knowledge and competency to help them. For accreditation, it’s a great marketing tool. There are suppliers who don’t bill Medicare but get the accreditation just so they can show their patients and their referrals sources that they have met these standards. 

HME: What does this honor mean to you? 

Miller: I’m very humbled. There are others that I think are more (deserving). BOC kind of started my career. In 1994, I got certified as an orthotist and that’s where my career got started, because of that pathway. And then coming on staff and just watching BOC grow and being able to reach out to more people in the industry (was very exciting).