Answers to T-shirt question

Answers to T-shirt question

Trevor Townsend, CPO

7/30/2018

List,

 

Original question.

 

I was wondering if there is a problem with inducement if you were to provide
a prosthetic patient with a t-shirt upon delivery of their prosthesis?
Primarily concerned about Medicare patients.

 

 

Answers from the list.

 

There is a mcare guideline for gifts related to doctors. I think it is
$15 or less is ok, market value. Section 110.1.1 and it can't exceed $75
in a year. I'd assume it's same for that situation.

Ahmahn Peeples CPO/LPO

Hanger Clinic

Albuquerque, NM

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No. We gave out carry lite back packs with draw string had our name on the
back paks. We would put

socks, and soft goods in the bag and literature and they walked out with it.
Back paks

were good cause they take those everywhere. Reusable if you will. Where as
a t shirt your where once

and then it's in the laundry.

 

I hope not Trevor! I've been doing it since opening. Our policy is that each
client gets a t shirt at delivery. a Five dollar shirt is a poor inducement
for someone to receive over ten thousand in services.

 

Regards, Jim Young, CP, LP FAAOP Macon GA

 

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It's an interesting question, and one that I had not thought of before. I'll
attach a link about the new regulations regarding inducement for Medicare
beneficiaries. One of the changes that was made in 2017 is that there is a
higher value set on items that fall under an exception to the rule. As long
as you do not spend more than $15 on an item for a patient, or $75 annually
on items for a patient, then you are not violating the inducement rule. So I
would think that if you can find t-shirts for under $15, then you definitely
would be in the clear. Here is the link:

 

<URL Redacted>
he-beneficiary-inducement-statute/

 

 

Lorin Merkley

Nextremity Prosthetic Designs

 

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A t-shirt is considered an item of minimal value and is perfectly fine as
a give-away to a patient or referral source. They're a great way to
identify your work with that patient, show your appreciation to them, etc.,
and from a regulatory standpoint are not considered an inducement.

 

Kevin

 

Kevin Hill, CPO

Clinical Process Partner

 

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We've been doing that for more than 3 years now. I don't see how that can
be a problem, is it any different than giving them a cup of coffee when they
come in? We see it as relatively cheap advertising.

 

Rob Burris, CP

 

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Not if you offer the same to all patients.

 

Jason Jennings, CPO





 

Thanks,

 

Trevor Townsend, CPO

President

Valley Institute of Prosthetics and Orthotics

 

 

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