• I
  • Patient Survey
  • I
  • Online Bill Pay
  • I
  • Patient Registration
  • Pediatric Patient Registration
  • Locations / Contact Us
facebook
Instagram 
De La Torre Orthotics & Prosthetics
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Insurance Process
    • Hospital Affiliations
    • Organizational Affiliations
    • Job Opportunities
  • Orthotics
    • Our Approach
    • Ask The Clinician
    • Products
      • Pedorthic Products
      • Lower Extremity
      • Upper Extremity
      • Spinal
    • Orthotics Videos
      • Orthotics Education
  • Prosthetics
    • Our Approach
    • Ask The Clinician
    • revAMPd podcast
    • K-Level
    • Products
      • Above The Knee
      • Below The Knee
      • Lower Extremity
      • Upper Extremity
      • Silicone Restoration
    • Prosthetics Videos
      • Prosthetics Education
  • Pediatrics
    • Our Approach
    • Pediatric Patient Registration
    • Ask The Clinician
    • Products
      • Lower Extremity
      • Upper Extremity
      • Spinal
      • Scoliosis Bracing
      • Cranial Helmets
    • Pediatrics Videos
      • Children’s Orthotics
    • Brace Colors
  • Patient Resources
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Pediatric Patient Registration
    • Patient Registration
    • Patient Survey
    • Links
    • FAQs
    • DLT Brace Colors
  • What’s New
    • Latest News & Events
    • Newsletters
    • revAMPd podcast
  • Locations
Back to top
K-levels are the rating system established by Medicare to indicate a person’s rehabilitation potential. The system gives a rating from 0 through 4 and indicates a person’s potential to use a prosthetic device if they had a device that worked well for them and they completed rehabilitation to use the device properly.
Your K-level designation is important because it is the driving factor in the decision on what prosthetic device to provide to you and the payment for that prosthetic device. Payment by Medicare, and most insurers, is guided by the amputee’s K-level designation.
Insurance companies want to ensure that when they pay for a prosthesis, the amputee will likely be able to use the device. Insurance companies do not want to pay for an expensive prosthesis only to have the amputee not use it because it is unrealistic for the person to be up and about. On the other hand, insurance companies also want to be sure that if the person has the potential for walking about in the community, getting back into hobbies, sports, and other recreational activities, that they receive a prosthetic device that will allow the amputee to successfully do those things. In short, the prosthesis should match the person’s need and potential.
There are several outcome measures used to establish K levels which include;
  • Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP)
  • Patient Assessment Validation Evaluation Test (PAVET)
  • Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ)
  • Timed Up and Go (TUG)
  • Timed Walk Tests
  • Distance Walk Tests
The Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP) is the most frequently used outcome measure. The AMP can be administered in as little as fifteen minutes on patients with (AMPPro) or without a prosthesis (AMPnoPro).
Below are Medicare’s descriptions of the five (0-4) K-Levels
Level 0 – Does not have the ability or potential to ambulate or transfer safely with or without assistance and a prosthesis does not enhance their quality of life or mobility.
Level 1 – Has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis for transfers or ambulation on level surfaces at fixed cadence. Typical of the limited and unlimited household ambulator.
Level 2 – Has the ability or potential for ambulation with the ability to traverse low level environmental barriers such as curbs, stairs or uneven surfaces. Typical of the limited community ambulator.
Level 3 – Has the ability or potential for ambulation with variable cadence. Typical of the community ambulator who has the ability to traverse most environmental barriers and may have vocational, therapeutic, or exercise activity that demands prosthetic utilization beyond simple locomotion.
Level 4 – Has the ability or potential for prosthetic ambulation that exceeds basic ambulation skills, exhibiting high impact, stress, or energy levels. Typical of the prosthetic demands of the child, active adult, or athlete.
Five Facts Every Medicare Patient With Limb Loss Should Know;
1. Do you know the K-level your physician has determined for you? This will be a number between 0 and 4.
2. Has your physician properly documented in your medical record all of the information needed to determine your K-level? Ask your physician how the documentation supports the need for your prosthesis.
3. Be sure your prosthetist fits you with a prosthesis that is appropriate for your K-level.
4. Your K-level affects the kind of foot and/or knee your prosthetist can incorporate into your prosthesis.
5. Visit your physician regularly (every 6-12 months) to maintain complete documentation of your prosthetic care. Discuss your prosthetic use with your physician, including your current and potential K-level; the condition of your residual limb; your socket fit; how your prosthesis is functioning; and any activities that you are unable to perform in your current prosthesis that you would like to be able to do.
For more information about K-Levels, check out “Do You Know Your K-Level” by the Amputee Coalition.
Hospitals and Health Care Professionals
All orders and questions
412-599-1138

In-Patient Items (Hospital Clients) 
Ashley
ashleys@delatorreop.com

Prosthetic Clients
Vikki
412-599-1105 
vikkih@delatorreop.com

Prosthetic Billing
Donna
412-599-1119 
donna@delatorreop.com

Pediatric Clients & Billing
Heather
412-599-1117
heather@delatorreop.com

All Other Billing Questions
Renee
412-967-9145 
renee@delatorreop.com

Practice Administrator
Joyce
412-599-1112 
joyce@delatorreop.com

In-Services and Additional Information
Libby
412-310-4445 
libbyj@delatorreop.com

Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities
Vikki
412-599-1105
vikkih@delatorreop.com

Have A Question For A Clinician?

We would be happy to help!
Click here to ask your question.

Popular Posts

Apr
09

The Union O & P / De La Torre Orthotics 2021 Socket and Prosthesis Facebook Photo Contest is here!posted by Scott Kozelnik

Mar
19

MARCH 23, 2021 – AMPUTEE WALKING CLINIC WEBINARposted by Scott Kozelnik

Mar
02

2021 Amputee Walking Clinic Webinarsposted by Scott Kozelnik

Jan
19

UNION ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS CO. ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF DE LA TORRE ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS, INC.posted by Scott Kozelnik

May
07

Pediatric Patient Registrationposted by Libby Johnston

© 2017 De La Torre Orthotics & Prosthetics

Hosting & Web Design by Your Site Team, LLC. - PIttsburgh

For our valued patients and healthcare colleagues:

We continue to evaluate and have flexibility as the various changes resulting from COVID-19 affect us all in so many ways. De La Torre Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. is dedicated to doing all we can to protect our patients and our employees as this situation continues to develop.

As you know, we will work alongside you to give care and support to all patients trusting us in their care.

To assure we comply with Governor Wolf’s mandate, we are following these protocols:

We ask that all patients please come to our offices wearing a face mask.

We are open for all lines of Prosthetic, Pediatric and Orthotic business.  Use the numbers listed below to call us for an appointment.

We will NOT be seeing patients at our offices who answer yes to any of these situations:

  • Do you or anyone you are living with suffer from any of these symptoms: fever, cough or respiratory distress?
  • Did you or anyone you are living with have contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within the last 14 days?
  • Have you or anyone you are living with tested positive for COVID-19?

Thank you for your continued trust in De La Torre Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc.

Hospitals and Healthcare professionals 412 599 1138 Prosthetics 412 599 1105 Pediatrics 412 599 1117 All other appointments call the office you would like to be seen and press #2

Butler 724-283-2000
Cranberry 724-779-7700
Harmar Township 412-828-2830
Pleasant Hills 412-532-7500
Monroeville 412-457-0500
Robinson 412-921-3004
Washington 724-225-1221