Re: Senate 1451/House Bill 1938
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Senate 1451/House Bill 1938
Creator:
Tony Barr
Text:
Kimberley-contrary to your below statement I sincerly believe we are on the verge of improving protection for amputee consumers.Both of these bills are a 'starting' point of putting accountability to the profession and 'better' protects the consumer from improper treatment, false billing, fraud and abuse. A provider that is seeking reimbursement from Medicare,will be required to have the highest standards available today , basically ABC certification and their educational standards. Both bills will have grandfather provisions for other non ABC certified providers deemed qualified.
Medicare providers will be responsible to deliver quality services and quality care. If they do not they can no longer be found eligible for Medicare reimbursement . Medicare currently pays for about 70% + of the O&P services for US senior citizens. State medicaid policies often mirror their requirements after medicare .This will help younger consumers not qualified for medicare coverage.
In the past, unqualified DME dealers and uncertified providers have provided and been compensated for these services by Medicare US tax dollars. I am comparing the two bills with the help of AOPA who appear to be supportive of legislation establishing these quidelines.Regardless of the choice we hope we can count on you and other amputee support group members and organizations for strong consumer support.
Like indivisual state licensure efforts, federal regulation places the much needed accountability and 'some' educational requirements into the system. It's certainly not a cure all to qualifing every provider and preventing all the fraud and abuse or increasing coverages, but it is a very good start!
Once accountability and federal standards are mandated,consumers and professionals will have a far better chance of recieving improved care , better benefits and proper reimbursement.
O&P consumer's, in most states that are unregulated, only recourse is the Dept. of Consumer Affairs under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Agriculture!! The same recourse a consumer would have if she bought a faulty garden hose or clothing item!!! Tony
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With all these kudos going out regarding this bill - has no one noticed the glaring omission that, as usual, there is no protection for the amputee?
There is a ton of protection built in for the prosthetists, but no where does it cover the most important part of the equation, the customer.
Seems to be just another grab for money and glory on the industry end at our expense.
The comments that came out regarding the person who had a class and was wondering if he was certified are a valid issue - especially since certification does not equal ability or talent.
Anyone can pass a test, it does not mean they are good at what they passed the test on. Look at all the crappy drivers out there if you don't see what I mean.
When does the amputee get any protection?
Kimberley Barreda
Cripworld Guide to Amputation
lifelong amputee and consumer of over a
quarter of a million dollars worth of prosthetics
Medicare providers will be responsible to deliver quality services and quality care. If they do not they can no longer be found eligible for Medicare reimbursement . Medicare currently pays for about 70% + of the O&P services for US senior citizens. State medicaid policies often mirror their requirements after medicare .This will help younger consumers not qualified for medicare coverage.
In the past, unqualified DME dealers and uncertified providers have provided and been compensated for these services by Medicare US tax dollars. I am comparing the two bills with the help of AOPA who appear to be supportive of legislation establishing these quidelines.Regardless of the choice we hope we can count on you and other amputee support group members and organizations for strong consumer support.
Like indivisual state licensure efforts, federal regulation places the much needed accountability and 'some' educational requirements into the system. It's certainly not a cure all to qualifing every provider and preventing all the fraud and abuse or increasing coverages, but it is a very good start!
Once accountability and federal standards are mandated,consumers and professionals will have a far better chance of recieving improved care , better benefits and proper reimbursement.
O&P consumer's, in most states that are unregulated, only recourse is the Dept. of Consumer Affairs under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Agriculture!! The same recourse a consumer would have if she bought a faulty garden hose or clothing item!!! Tony
----------
With all these kudos going out regarding this bill - has no one noticed the glaring omission that, as usual, there is no protection for the amputee?
There is a ton of protection built in for the prosthetists, but no where does it cover the most important part of the equation, the customer.
Seems to be just another grab for money and glory on the industry end at our expense.
The comments that came out regarding the person who had a class and was wondering if he was certified are a valid issue - especially since certification does not equal ability or talent.
Anyone can pass a test, it does not mean they are good at what they passed the test on. Look at all the crappy drivers out there if you don't see what I mean.
When does the amputee get any protection?
Kimberley Barreda
Cripworld Guide to Amputation
lifelong amputee and consumer of over a
quarter of a million dollars worth of prosthetics
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Senate 1451/House Bill 1938,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 26, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212647.
