Replies to my recent email concerning the state of O&P as it relates to government assistance, PART 1
Andrew Cinque
Description
Collection
Title:
Replies to my recent email concerning the state of O&P as it relates to government assistance, PART 1
Creator:
Andrew Cinque
Date:
3/22/2020
Text:
I have been thinking how to post these replies while respecting privacy and wishes, and at the same time keeping it clean. Most of the responses were positive and supporting to my thoughts, while a few were negative and criticizing me for not doing more myself. Thats ok, it was expected. I tried, so here goes. And by the way, I did heard from AOPA, but I thought it appropriate not to post that email. Let me just say that in my opinion, we are not doing what we need to do. Hopefully you al have the original email. I am not positing that again or I will go over the allowed # of lines. It already got kicked back to me. Here are the replies:
Hear! Hear!...scream it from the back row loud enough to hear it in the front! I am NOT a member of AOPA or AAOP because I find it useless except to receive discounts on meetings that I don't attend. Where do they spend the money that you are required to pay for dues?...nice magazine!
Aopa is supposed to be helping us but they have done nothing legislatively to help us. Insurance companies are ignoring the rules staying that our notes are part of the patients medical record and they have done nothing about it like sueing CMS. They take our money and do nothing for us.
Bravo Andrew, the profession is a shit show, and has been one for nearly 20 years. The Insurance companies have all the power, we are their serfs, to be told how and what to do, and by the way we will also tell you when the device is delivered and awaiting payment that we did it wrong. Unfortunately the professional advocacy groups ABC,AAOP, and AOPA are still run by the same recycled business owners and practitioners that are there for their self interest and for the titles after their names. I blatantly have refused facility accreditation. My state health department doesn't require it nor does anyone else. They can all kiss my ass. BTW, any vets I have, think CPO was for Chief petty officer...lol
Greetings,
Those are great words most everyone is experiencing
and hope someone takes into action. Thanks for sharing this.
Nice and ditto that we do not have any voice or clout.
Hi Andrew! I appreciate the courage it took for you to send the email you did. I am the owner of an O&P practice in Texas and we have all the same concerns/complaints. I would love to talk with you sometime to see how we can figure out some better ways to approach our industry and the REAL problems we are all encountering. Thanks for staring a real conversation! Look forward to how people respond...
Well said thank you, I share your opinion
Hi Andrew, I hear everything you are saying, as I sit at home because my practice is closed due to the Bay Area shelter in place order. There is no question that it was the right decision in the larger context of what is going on and what is about to hit, but it does make us all wonder what the future looks like. To directly answer your question, I actually met our O&P lobbyist at the Academy meeting two weeks ago. His name is Justin Beland and his official title is Director of Government Affairs with AOPA. He was encouraging everyone to get behind several O&P initiatives using social media, email, and grassroots activism. He and Teri Kuffel also encouraged people to take part in the annual March on Washington where they meet with senators and representatives about issues facing O&P. I’m sure either of them would love to hear from you and share in your frustrations. Two other individuals spoke at the Academy meeting that would also have some good answers and resources for you with regards to the current political climate. The new president of the Academy, Jared Howell, and Bruce “Mac” McClellen. They led a great discussion and answered (as much as there are “answers”) a lot of these pertinent questions. Now is a great time to get involved and it sounds like you have some fire that could really move the profession forward. Stay safe and healthy!
Are you a member of NAAOP? This is our national organization speaking on our behalf in Washington. I served on their board and they are highly active in dealing with legislation.
My point is - get involved and reach out we can use all the help we can get. Our voices are very small so we need as many people involved as possible.
Hi Andrew, Unfortunately ALL you said is true! I am CPO since 1999 and came to the US on 2010. I came from third world country that faced same issues hoping that in the US (which is consider as a first world) I won’t see them! BUT same and even worse!
I started my practice 3 years ago in CA, and found that not only most of the people don’t know what is O&P, but insurance companies, health care providers and even some MDs don’t know!! In most of the applications, like CAQH, there is no option to select O&P. I wanna say all health providers like PTs, OTs, nurses, …. can see their professional name but us! And when I call and asked them what should I do, I heard back to choose the one which is close to what we do! really? which one is close to our job? How long PT or OT is in business? how long O&P is in the business? why should they be so powerful and not us? For sure you heard about Medicare bidding program. starting Jan 2021 not all O&P providers can fit and bill Medicare for certain codes. BUT MDs, PTs, OTs, and nurses can!!! they are doing our job in their offices and still will be able to bill medicare and get paid at the higher rate. Like you mentioned most of the people don’t know what does CPO means. but why? Why everybody, who are not certified, can fit OTC orthoses and get paid? what does state licensure means? Why should I get Medicare denial when I fit custom Arizona AFO to the patient who had received OTC ankle support (L1902) 3 years ago? are they really same or similar? There are a lot of issues with our practice. Sorry to say but I think we are the only miserable professionals nationwide! Be healthy and have a great days.
What a great email !! I applaud you and wish that the powers of AOPA & AAOP AND WHOMEVER ELSE supposedly guides O&P come forth and ask for government to save/help/support our profession. We provide an amazing service. And only our patients and families understand how much of a priority we are.
Andrew, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS! Our O&P representatives are in the business of making money!!! They want our money, make rules so that we have to pay them for this & that, but do NOTHING for us!
Andrew, These are definitely crazy times for our country. I just want to say that I understand where you are coming from. Our profession has zero leadership. ABC, AOPA, AAOPA, NCOPE are a complete joke. It is an incestuous do nothing but collect dues menagerie (hell they are all housed in the same building!). I have been in the field for 30 years and have seen it essentially go downhill ever since I started in O & P. Yeah we still make a decent living, but that is going to change as well. The master's students are a complete joke. Thankfully, our profession has developed the ability to fit most things out of a box (I knew this would be the beginning of the end 10 years ago) which is to the new clinicians liking and ability. Insurance companies, CMS, VA, and etc. now just tell us what to put on our patients. Unfortunately, this is going to be the new norm. I have completely discouraged my children from following my footsteps into the profession. I feel terrible about this because it was such an exciting and rewarding field. I often tell folks that I love what I do, but I hate how I have to do it. The Almanac, Edge and the rest of our publications are useless. Over the last 10 years, all you hear about is the importance of outcome measures. This is just another ploy to make the academic idiots in our profession feel some sort of relevance. AOPA is also championing 3D printed crap. In one of their Smart Briefs the first article was about how excellent the masters programs were to the profession. The very next article was about a hairdresser that 3D printed an upper limb prosthesis for a kid. Why do we need a masters program to do stuff that is so easy a hairdresser can do it! By the way, I have nothing against hairdressers. Bottom line is that O & P has no leadership. I don't have any answers at this time. Hang in there, you are not the only one that is frustrated.
YEP keep paying your dues to ABC and AOPA
Thank you for what you just put into words. I’ve been doing this for 20 years and every word you said is 100% on the mark. I hope we all make it through this situation and come out on the other side being able to continue helping the people who rely on us every single day.
Andrew I'm with you. It's a sad day when i tell my billing manager I'd rather see a Florida Medicaid patient than private insurances. We may get paid peanuts but we'll get to keep it. And no one cares about our cleaning practices either or my titles. Fact I just use my licensing credentials and that's it. So I have no advice but I agree a lot has to change. I talk to doctors I know personally and they admit they don't know what to write in their notes to satisfy insurances for orthotics or prosthetics. Yet these notes, written by doctors who rely on us to muscle test because we've the time and they don't is what insurances look at. It's ridiculous and it needs to change before there is no O&P because we all wised up. I've spoken out on Twitter but when you're the only one you tend to stop.
I agree our profession has let us down. They charge fees and inact rules and regulations that just make it more difficult. ABC is a joke and has lost their way. Been in the profession for 35 years
Andrew: Ditto...MEDICARE FOR ALL!!!!.... are you s******g me. Pass it on...in complete. Be Safe.
Aopa is supposed to be helping us but they have done nothing legislatively to help us. Insurance companies are ignoring the rules saying that our notes are part of the patients medical record and they have done nothing about it like sueing CMS. They take our money and do nothing for us.
Bravo Andrew, the profession is a **** show, and has been one for nearly 20 years. The Insurance companies have all the power, we are their serfs, to be told how and what to do, and by the way we will also tell you when the device is delivered and awaiting payment that we did it wrong. Unfortunately the professional advocacy groups ABC,AAOP, and AOPA are still run by the same recycled business owners and practitioners that are there for their self interest and for the titles after their names. I blatantly have refused facility accreditation. My state health department doesn't require it nor does anyone else. BTW, any vets I have, think CPO was for Chief petty officer...lol
Please send letters to your local, state and federal representatives. Contact your representatives and share your personal concerns. I have done this in the past and have received personal responses back regarding any specific concerns I addressed.
MORE TO COME IN PART 2
Andrew A. Cinque CPO
34 Ridge Road
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Cell: (914) 755-5145
Fax: (914) 737-1488
AC Prosthetic & Orthotic Svs Inc.
<URL Redacted>
Mgr @ JK Prosthetics & Orthotics Corp.
699 North MacQuesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10567
Office: (914) 699-2077
Fax: (914) 699-0676
<Email Address Redacted>
Hear! Hear!...scream it from the back row loud enough to hear it in the front! I am NOT a member of AOPA or AAOP because I find it useless except to receive discounts on meetings that I don't attend. Where do they spend the money that you are required to pay for dues?...nice magazine!
Aopa is supposed to be helping us but they have done nothing legislatively to help us. Insurance companies are ignoring the rules staying that our notes are part of the patients medical record and they have done nothing about it like sueing CMS. They take our money and do nothing for us.
Bravo Andrew, the profession is a shit show, and has been one for nearly 20 years. The Insurance companies have all the power, we are their serfs, to be told how and what to do, and by the way we will also tell you when the device is delivered and awaiting payment that we did it wrong. Unfortunately the professional advocacy groups ABC,AAOP, and AOPA are still run by the same recycled business owners and practitioners that are there for their self interest and for the titles after their names. I blatantly have refused facility accreditation. My state health department doesn't require it nor does anyone else. They can all kiss my ass. BTW, any vets I have, think CPO was for Chief petty officer...lol
Greetings,
Those are great words most everyone is experiencing
and hope someone takes into action. Thanks for sharing this.
Nice and ditto that we do not have any voice or clout.
Hi Andrew! I appreciate the courage it took for you to send the email you did. I am the owner of an O&P practice in Texas and we have all the same concerns/complaints. I would love to talk with you sometime to see how we can figure out some better ways to approach our industry and the REAL problems we are all encountering. Thanks for staring a real conversation! Look forward to how people respond...
Well said thank you, I share your opinion
Hi Andrew, I hear everything you are saying, as I sit at home because my practice is closed due to the Bay Area shelter in place order. There is no question that it was the right decision in the larger context of what is going on and what is about to hit, but it does make us all wonder what the future looks like. To directly answer your question, I actually met our O&P lobbyist at the Academy meeting two weeks ago. His name is Justin Beland and his official title is Director of Government Affairs with AOPA. He was encouraging everyone to get behind several O&P initiatives using social media, email, and grassroots activism. He and Teri Kuffel also encouraged people to take part in the annual March on Washington where they meet with senators and representatives about issues facing O&P. I’m sure either of them would love to hear from you and share in your frustrations. Two other individuals spoke at the Academy meeting that would also have some good answers and resources for you with regards to the current political climate. The new president of the Academy, Jared Howell, and Bruce “Mac” McClellen. They led a great discussion and answered (as much as there are “answers”) a lot of these pertinent questions. Now is a great time to get involved and it sounds like you have some fire that could really move the profession forward. Stay safe and healthy!
Are you a member of NAAOP? This is our national organization speaking on our behalf in Washington. I served on their board and they are highly active in dealing with legislation.
My point is - get involved and reach out we can use all the help we can get. Our voices are very small so we need as many people involved as possible.
Hi Andrew, Unfortunately ALL you said is true! I am CPO since 1999 and came to the US on 2010. I came from third world country that faced same issues hoping that in the US (which is consider as a first world) I won’t see them! BUT same and even worse!
I started my practice 3 years ago in CA, and found that not only most of the people don’t know what is O&P, but insurance companies, health care providers and even some MDs don’t know!! In most of the applications, like CAQH, there is no option to select O&P. I wanna say all health providers like PTs, OTs, nurses, …. can see their professional name but us! And when I call and asked them what should I do, I heard back to choose the one which is close to what we do! really? which one is close to our job? How long PT or OT is in business? how long O&P is in the business? why should they be so powerful and not us? For sure you heard about Medicare bidding program. starting Jan 2021 not all O&P providers can fit and bill Medicare for certain codes. BUT MDs, PTs, OTs, and nurses can!!! they are doing our job in their offices and still will be able to bill medicare and get paid at the higher rate. Like you mentioned most of the people don’t know what does CPO means. but why? Why everybody, who are not certified, can fit OTC orthoses and get paid? what does state licensure means? Why should I get Medicare denial when I fit custom Arizona AFO to the patient who had received OTC ankle support (L1902) 3 years ago? are they really same or similar? There are a lot of issues with our practice. Sorry to say but I think we are the only miserable professionals nationwide! Be healthy and have a great days.
What a great email !! I applaud you and wish that the powers of AOPA & AAOP AND WHOMEVER ELSE supposedly guides O&P come forth and ask for government to save/help/support our profession. We provide an amazing service. And only our patients and families understand how much of a priority we are.
Andrew, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS! Our O&P representatives are in the business of making money!!! They want our money, make rules so that we have to pay them for this & that, but do NOTHING for us!
Andrew, These are definitely crazy times for our country. I just want to say that I understand where you are coming from. Our profession has zero leadership. ABC, AOPA, AAOPA, NCOPE are a complete joke. It is an incestuous do nothing but collect dues menagerie (hell they are all housed in the same building!). I have been in the field for 30 years and have seen it essentially go downhill ever since I started in O & P. Yeah we still make a decent living, but that is going to change as well. The master's students are a complete joke. Thankfully, our profession has developed the ability to fit most things out of a box (I knew this would be the beginning of the end 10 years ago) which is to the new clinicians liking and ability. Insurance companies, CMS, VA, and etc. now just tell us what to put on our patients. Unfortunately, this is going to be the new norm. I have completely discouraged my children from following my footsteps into the profession. I feel terrible about this because it was such an exciting and rewarding field. I often tell folks that I love what I do, but I hate how I have to do it. The Almanac, Edge and the rest of our publications are useless. Over the last 10 years, all you hear about is the importance of outcome measures. This is just another ploy to make the academic idiots in our profession feel some sort of relevance. AOPA is also championing 3D printed crap. In one of their Smart Briefs the first article was about how excellent the masters programs were to the profession. The very next article was about a hairdresser that 3D printed an upper limb prosthesis for a kid. Why do we need a masters program to do stuff that is so easy a hairdresser can do it! By the way, I have nothing against hairdressers. Bottom line is that O & P has no leadership. I don't have any answers at this time. Hang in there, you are not the only one that is frustrated.
YEP keep paying your dues to ABC and AOPA
Thank you for what you just put into words. I’ve been doing this for 20 years and every word you said is 100% on the mark. I hope we all make it through this situation and come out on the other side being able to continue helping the people who rely on us every single day.
Andrew I'm with you. It's a sad day when i tell my billing manager I'd rather see a Florida Medicaid patient than private insurances. We may get paid peanuts but we'll get to keep it. And no one cares about our cleaning practices either or my titles. Fact I just use my licensing credentials and that's it. So I have no advice but I agree a lot has to change. I talk to doctors I know personally and they admit they don't know what to write in their notes to satisfy insurances for orthotics or prosthetics. Yet these notes, written by doctors who rely on us to muscle test because we've the time and they don't is what insurances look at. It's ridiculous and it needs to change before there is no O&P because we all wised up. I've spoken out on Twitter but when you're the only one you tend to stop.
I agree our profession has let us down. They charge fees and inact rules and regulations that just make it more difficult. ABC is a joke and has lost their way. Been in the profession for 35 years
Andrew: Ditto...MEDICARE FOR ALL!!!!.... are you s******g me. Pass it on...in complete. Be Safe.
Aopa is supposed to be helping us but they have done nothing legislatively to help us. Insurance companies are ignoring the rules saying that our notes are part of the patients medical record and they have done nothing about it like sueing CMS. They take our money and do nothing for us.
Bravo Andrew, the profession is a **** show, and has been one for nearly 20 years. The Insurance companies have all the power, we are their serfs, to be told how and what to do, and by the way we will also tell you when the device is delivered and awaiting payment that we did it wrong. Unfortunately the professional advocacy groups ABC,AAOP, and AOPA are still run by the same recycled business owners and practitioners that are there for their self interest and for the titles after their names. I blatantly have refused facility accreditation. My state health department doesn't require it nor does anyone else. BTW, any vets I have, think CPO was for Chief petty officer...lol
Please send letters to your local, state and federal representatives. Contact your representatives and share your personal concerns. I have done this in the past and have received personal responses back regarding any specific concerns I addressed.
MORE TO COME IN PART 2
Andrew A. Cinque CPO
34 Ridge Road
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Cell: (914) 755-5145
Fax: (914) 737-1488
AC Prosthetic & Orthotic Svs Inc.
<URL Redacted>
Mgr @ JK Prosthetics & Orthotics Corp.
699 North MacQuesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10567
Office: (914) 699-2077
Fax: (914) 699-0676
<Email Address Redacted>
Citation
Andrew Cinque, “Replies to my recent email concerning the state of O&P as it relates to government assistance, PART 1,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/209886.
