Fw: US POLITICS: THE CONSOLIDATION VOTE
Tony Barr
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Title:
Fw: US POLITICS: THE CONSOLIDATION VOTE
Creator:
Tony Barr
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I too, echo Mr.Billock's thoughts. His position to vote against consolidation is right for the profession and the consumer.
He, better than most, would know of the negative effects consolidation would have on the image of your profession and future progress for proper O&P coverage. He has been past president of the Academy two times.
Consolidation will dilute the voice of the indivisual practitioner and will be a step backwards in the positive professional image that members of the Academy have worked so hard for.The professional's identity should be his own!
One self-serving organization's plea for higher coverages will fall on deaf ears. Although I am not a practitioner nor able to cast a vote, I am a consumer and consumer advocate. I personally witness, everyday, the negative reception from lawmakers and third party payers to pleas of increased O&P coverages by a currently unregulated trade industry. The professional organization members should remain seperate from the trade association special interests to avoid any perception of a monopoly.
Vote your conscious... Vote against consolidation!
Tony Barr
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Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 13:44:45
From: JNBillock
To: O&P LISTSERVE
Subject: US POLITICS: THE CONSOLIDATION VOTE
Dear O&P Colleagues,
The moment of decision has arrived to support or not support the
consolidation of our O&P national organizations. Despite the information
that has been presented, my position against the consolidation effort remains
unchanged. I would like to summarize my thoughts and my opinions on why I
do not support the consolidation of our O&P national organizations, as
you consider your vote:
Regardless of how it is stated, consolidation really boils down to a merger
between the Academy, a professional society, and AOPA, a trade association,
since ABC and NCOPE will maintain their autonomy.
No concrete or factual information has been clearly presented which supports
or confirms the potential for a successful outcome.
No concrete or factual information has been clearly presented to support the
economical advantages for the consolidation of our O&P national
organizations or the future structure and operations of our national office.
Consolidation will do nothing to increase our voice on legislative issues of
concern, as our actual membership numbers will not increase and actually may
decrease.
Consolidation will decrease our voice on State and Federal legislative issues
of concern as the untapped potential for coalition support by our existing
organizations will be decreased to that of a single organization, who's new
single voice will be largely viewed as self-serving.
Consolidation will seriously weaken our voice on State and Federal O&P
regulatory issues because the potential advantage of coalition support by
our professional society (the Academy), our trade association (AOPA),
facility and practitioner credentialing organization (ABC), and our O&P
educational credentialing organization will be lost.
Consolidation will do nothing to increase, facilitate or encourage grassroots
participation by individual members in leadership roles, as most will not
have the time or resources to contribute to a much larger and more complex
national organization.
Consolidation will do nothing to improve our image as a true allied health
care profession, if suppliers and manufacturers are to be included as
members. This new single O&P national organization will be largely viewed as
a trade association, not a professional society or organization and find
it more difficult to justify to our legislators the long sought after
separation of O&P from DME.
Lastly, regardless of the outcome of the voting process, I hope that our
profession and industry will be able to move forward collectively or
jointly, without the animosity this initiative has again brought to the
forefront. Also, I strongly encourage others to come forward with their
thoughts and opinions on this important subject.
With my sincerest regards,
John N. Billock, CPO,
Academy Past-President 1985/86 & 1995/96
He, better than most, would know of the negative effects consolidation would have on the image of your profession and future progress for proper O&P coverage. He has been past president of the Academy two times.
Consolidation will dilute the voice of the indivisual practitioner and will be a step backwards in the positive professional image that members of the Academy have worked so hard for.The professional's identity should be his own!
One self-serving organization's plea for higher coverages will fall on deaf ears. Although I am not a practitioner nor able to cast a vote, I am a consumer and consumer advocate. I personally witness, everyday, the negative reception from lawmakers and third party payers to pleas of increased O&P coverages by a currently unregulated trade industry. The professional organization members should remain seperate from the trade association special interests to avoid any perception of a monopoly.
Vote your conscious... Vote against consolidation!
Tony Barr
----------
Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 13:44:45
From: JNBillock
To: O&P LISTSERVE
Subject: US POLITICS: THE CONSOLIDATION VOTE
Dear O&P Colleagues,
The moment of decision has arrived to support or not support the
consolidation of our O&P national organizations. Despite the information
that has been presented, my position against the consolidation effort remains
unchanged. I would like to summarize my thoughts and my opinions on why I
do not support the consolidation of our O&P national organizations, as
you consider your vote:
Regardless of how it is stated, consolidation really boils down to a merger
between the Academy, a professional society, and AOPA, a trade association,
since ABC and NCOPE will maintain their autonomy.
No concrete or factual information has been clearly presented which supports
or confirms the potential for a successful outcome.
No concrete or factual information has been clearly presented to support the
economical advantages for the consolidation of our O&P national
organizations or the future structure and operations of our national office.
Consolidation will do nothing to increase our voice on legislative issues of
concern, as our actual membership numbers will not increase and actually may
decrease.
Consolidation will decrease our voice on State and Federal legislative issues
of concern as the untapped potential for coalition support by our existing
organizations will be decreased to that of a single organization, who's new
single voice will be largely viewed as self-serving.
Consolidation will seriously weaken our voice on State and Federal O&P
regulatory issues because the potential advantage of coalition support by
our professional society (the Academy), our trade association (AOPA),
facility and practitioner credentialing organization (ABC), and our O&P
educational credentialing organization will be lost.
Consolidation will do nothing to increase, facilitate or encourage grassroots
participation by individual members in leadership roles, as most will not
have the time or resources to contribute to a much larger and more complex
national organization.
Consolidation will do nothing to improve our image as a true allied health
care profession, if suppliers and manufacturers are to be included as
members. This new single O&P national organization will be largely viewed as
a trade association, not a professional society or organization and find
it more difficult to justify to our legislators the long sought after
separation of O&P from DME.
Lastly, regardless of the outcome of the voting process, I hope that our
profession and industry will be able to move forward collectively or
jointly, without the animosity this initiative has again brought to the
forefront. Also, I strongly encourage others to come forward with their
thoughts and opinions on this important subject.
With my sincerest regards,
John N. Billock, CPO,
Academy Past-President 1985/86 & 1995/96
Citation
Tony Barr, “Fw: US POLITICS: THE CONSOLIDATION VOTE,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 17, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212063.
