Re: Hello! and Insurance, etc.
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Hello! and Insurance, etc.
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
1/26/2000
Text:
Joe, as a result of discussions and review of applications from hundreds of
amputees across the nation whom have applied for prosthetic funding
assistance from the Barr Foundation and the United Amputee Services
Association , we can confirm your staement that there is no coverage, one
time only coverage and generally overall across the board range O&P benefit
payment schedules from private insurers. In Florida where the profession is
regulated, the benefits and amounts of coverage are slowly becoming
increased, and more uniformed.The regulation of the O&P profession is a
prime motivator to third party payers to improve coverage as the reult of
establishing accountability and the requirement of certain educational
standards by all providers of O&P health care services.
Florida expanded their O&P coverage to adults shortly after the regulation
legislation was passed about three years ago.
Now if we, users of O&P devices, could organize motivate Medicare to adopt
such legislation on a federal level we would accomplish improved O&P
coverage and uniformity in benefits nationwide for the elderly. Congressman
Robert Wexlers HR 1938 and Senator Harkin have introduced such federal
legislation. It requires public support.
Medicaid' state health insurance poicies and private insurers, would follow
in a similar way to improve benefits of younger recepients.
Al Pike provides some good advice below!!
Tony Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Alessi < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: Amputee Information Network < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: Hello! and Insurance, etc.
> Hi Al,
> Isn't it also true that different insurance companies pay different
amounts
> for the same products and services? How can they get away with this?
> Speaking of certifications, after firing two CP's I was referred to an
ABC
> Certified Prosthetist. What a world of difference! I will never again go
to
> anyone who is not ABC certified. I used to be annoyed at being referred to
> as a patient. Having read the code of ethics clearly posted in my CP's
> office, I now understand why he calls me patient.
>
> Having experienced his remarkable talent, he can call me anything he
> wants and earns the right to do so with every prostheses he delivers. Now
I
> can understand why so many people are willing to travel great distances to
> see their CP's.
>
> Why can't the O and P industry establish themselves as something other
> than DME providers? I just don't understand how insurance companies can
lump
> together something that takes such talent and precision to make with other
> DME?
>
> Joe Alessi
> >
> >The advice is that amputees must get organized and deal with these
pending
> >problems now before it is to late. They are not going to fix themselves.
> >
> >Al Pike, CP
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <URL Redacted>
>
>
amputees across the nation whom have applied for prosthetic funding
assistance from the Barr Foundation and the United Amputee Services
Association , we can confirm your staement that there is no coverage, one
time only coverage and generally overall across the board range O&P benefit
payment schedules from private insurers. In Florida where the profession is
regulated, the benefits and amounts of coverage are slowly becoming
increased, and more uniformed.The regulation of the O&P profession is a
prime motivator to third party payers to improve coverage as the reult of
establishing accountability and the requirement of certain educational
standards by all providers of O&P health care services.
Florida expanded their O&P coverage to adults shortly after the regulation
legislation was passed about three years ago.
Now if we, users of O&P devices, could organize motivate Medicare to adopt
such legislation on a federal level we would accomplish improved O&P
coverage and uniformity in benefits nationwide for the elderly. Congressman
Robert Wexlers HR 1938 and Senator Harkin have introduced such federal
legislation. It requires public support.
Medicaid' state health insurance poicies and private insurers, would follow
in a similar way to improve benefits of younger recepients.
Al Pike provides some good advice below!!
Tony Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Alessi < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: Amputee Information Network < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: Hello! and Insurance, etc.
> Hi Al,
> Isn't it also true that different insurance companies pay different
amounts
> for the same products and services? How can they get away with this?
> Speaking of certifications, after firing two CP's I was referred to an
ABC
> Certified Prosthetist. What a world of difference! I will never again go
to
> anyone who is not ABC certified. I used to be annoyed at being referred to
> as a patient. Having read the code of ethics clearly posted in my CP's
> office, I now understand why he calls me patient.
>
> Having experienced his remarkable talent, he can call me anything he
> wants and earns the right to do so with every prostheses he delivers. Now
I
> can understand why so many people are willing to travel great distances to
> see their CP's.
>
> Why can't the O and P industry establish themselves as something other
> than DME providers? I just don't understand how insurance companies can
lump
> together something that takes such talent and precision to make with other
> DME?
>
> Joe Alessi
> >
> >The advice is that amputees must get organized and deal with these
pending
> >problems now before it is to late. They are not going to fix themselves.
> >
> >Al Pike, CP
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <URL Redacted>
>
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Hello! and Insurance, etc.,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed December 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/213429.
