Re: Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
10/20/1999
Text:
Mr.Gallo, our non profit consumer organization was required to pay a
registration fee each day to AOPA in Reno.
But who said fees and component costs are priced equally to all members and
non members of the trade association and not restricted for sale to
qualified practitioners or not discounted to nonqualified O&P providers?
There are many catagories of memberships!Too many!
Our organization functions as a highly creditable and often high profile
conduit for donated components to assist amputees , foreign and domestic,
who have no other sources of funding.We have participated in 38 states and
several third world countries including Mexico,Central America, Bosnia, and
Sierra Leone, West Africa.
A growing list of over 80 Barr Foundation sponsoring prosthetists can be
seen on our web site.
All we supply are prosthetic goods and services that are graciously
donated from manufacturers, practitioners, indivisuals and professionally
fitted thru a qualified prosthetist's sponsorship. We don't sell anything,
but with a little help from donors and the profession together, we help with
giving back one's dignity and ability to be self supportive. If AOPA is
going to take on the self appointed role of legislative policy maker for the
industry AND the profession, perhaps they better focus on the consumer
needs for affordable and proper coverage by selling their goods to only
qualified providers! That would reduce their vendor list considerably but it
would result in less fraud and abuse in the industry by the unqualified
which stalls insurance coverage reform.
Although peculiar that non profit consumer groups would be charged by the
trade industry, it was worth far more to us than the $50 per day entry fee
to personally thank the below donors of prosthetic goods and services that
have assisted over 500 amputees become Whole Again. It was certainly worth
more than that to them!!
As we approach year end, I'll take this opportunity to again thank them for
their tax deductible contributions.
1999 HOPE DONOR CLUB MEMBERS
TEC
Endolite North America
Springlite Prosthetics and Orthotics
Ohio Willow Wood
Motion Control
Kingsley Manufacturing Company
Silipos
Catech
Hosmer
J.E. Hanger
O&P Business News
Amputee Coalition of America
O&P Digital Technologies
Garrison's Orthotic And Prosthetic Clinic
San Fransico Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic
Bader Prosthetics Orthotics
Arthur Finnieston Clinic
WBC Industries
Shriners Hospitals
Mr.& Mrs.Robert Kuenzi
Anthony T. Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Morris Gallo < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
> Dear Mr. VanHook
> You state Mr. Gregson was issued a complimentary Press pass. Why? How
did he establish
> these press credentials? It is obvious from his post he is a supplier of
prosthetic goods,
> so why didn't he pay to attend like all the other practitioners and
suppliers.
Morris Gallo
>
> Robert VanHook wrote:
> >
> > We think that AOPA can do the most for consumers by sticking to what we
do
> > best, i.e., promoting the highest standards for the O&P profession and
> > industry through education of our members and through legislative and
> > regulatory action.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
registration fee each day to AOPA in Reno.
But who said fees and component costs are priced equally to all members and
non members of the trade association and not restricted for sale to
qualified practitioners or not discounted to nonqualified O&P providers?
There are many catagories of memberships!Too many!
Our organization functions as a highly creditable and often high profile
conduit for donated components to assist amputees , foreign and domestic,
who have no other sources of funding.We have participated in 38 states and
several third world countries including Mexico,Central America, Bosnia, and
Sierra Leone, West Africa.
A growing list of over 80 Barr Foundation sponsoring prosthetists can be
seen on our web site.
All we supply are prosthetic goods and services that are graciously
donated from manufacturers, practitioners, indivisuals and professionally
fitted thru a qualified prosthetist's sponsorship. We don't sell anything,
but with a little help from donors and the profession together, we help with
giving back one's dignity and ability to be self supportive. If AOPA is
going to take on the self appointed role of legislative policy maker for the
industry AND the profession, perhaps they better focus on the consumer
needs for affordable and proper coverage by selling their goods to only
qualified providers! That would reduce their vendor list considerably but it
would result in less fraud and abuse in the industry by the unqualified
which stalls insurance coverage reform.
Although peculiar that non profit consumer groups would be charged by the
trade industry, it was worth far more to us than the $50 per day entry fee
to personally thank the below donors of prosthetic goods and services that
have assisted over 500 amputees become Whole Again. It was certainly worth
more than that to them!!
As we approach year end, I'll take this opportunity to again thank them for
their tax deductible contributions.
1999 HOPE DONOR CLUB MEMBERS
TEC
Endolite North America
Springlite Prosthetics and Orthotics
Ohio Willow Wood
Motion Control
Kingsley Manufacturing Company
Silipos
Catech
Hosmer
J.E. Hanger
O&P Business News
Amputee Coalition of America
O&P Digital Technologies
Garrison's Orthotic And Prosthetic Clinic
San Fransico Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic
Bader Prosthetics Orthotics
Arthur Finnieston Clinic
WBC Industries
Shriners Hospitals
Mr.& Mrs.Robert Kuenzi
Anthony T. Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Morris Gallo < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
> Dear Mr. VanHook
> You state Mr. Gregson was issued a complimentary Press pass. Why? How
did he establish
> these press credentials? It is obvious from his post he is a supplier of
prosthetic goods,
> so why didn't he pay to attend like all the other practitioners and
suppliers.
Morris Gallo
>
> Robert VanHook wrote:
> >
> > We think that AOPA can do the most for consumers by sticking to what we
do
> > best, i.e., promoting the highest standards for the O&P profession and
> > industry through education of our members and through legislative and
> > regulatory action.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Amputee Consumerism and AOPA,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212729.
