Re: US-POLITICS: Competitive Bidding in O&P

Re: US-POLITICS: Competitive Bidding in O&P

Michael P Madden

2/3/2000

Tony,

SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPIN...SPI
N...SPIN...SPIN..

I get the impression that to you, all of O&P will owe it's future
legitimacy to redefining itself around your agenda. Unfortunately your
agenda, wrapped in the cloak of seemingly self appointed piety, WILL NOT
BE the answer to whatever ill's the profession may be suffering. It will
only introduce a whole new set of governmentally induced illnesses. O&P
must clean it's own house! No legislation will eliminate the fraud and
abuse you are claiming is so rampant because of the lack of legislation.
No one has ever successfully regulated morality, governments have only
been successful at identifying and then addressing incidents of
immorality. The government will not raise the quality of health care,
consider Canada and England. They will only regulate it into inefficient
complexities of regulation and ECONOMIC reforms(ie cut backs). I know you
sight Florida's increased coverage. But that was in the works separate
from licensure, and is coincidental to it, and would probably have
occurred despite it. Truth is governments are better at figuring out how
to collect money than figuring out how to implement monies efficiently,
and in a political climate looking to increase a pseudo surplus for
political advantage...there goes the funding...and here comes a new
source for professional funding of a new government agency &/or board.

I dare say your swatting flies with a sledge hammer. Mark my words, you
will cause access and availability of care, as well as quality of care to
suffer (in the long haul).
Quality care, by well trained, recognized professionals...absolutely!!!
Through legislation...very dangerous. Better we clean the house from
within, than have those from the outside come in and clean a house they
have never lived in.

With all due respect to you, and with some interest towards your noble
cause.

Mike M.

On Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:48:33 -0500 Tony Barr < <Email Address Redacted> > writes:
> Mr. Billock,
> If Competitive Bidding is implemented as a means to reduce the
> cost of
> Orthotic services than should not all suppliers of such services
> should be
> required to have the same qualifications in order to provide such
> services?
>
> Would you agree that allowing providers whom have no or obtain
> lesser
> qualifications to particiate in the bidding services, does a
> injustice to
> the patient and the taxpayer who always picks up the tap for fraud
> ,abuse
> and false billing?
>
> If it is the intent for HCFA to allow competeive bidding for
> services to
> reduce costs, than should not all providers should be on a level
> playing
> field in their qualifications and accountability?
> Reducing costs should not be traded for quality of health care
> services
> provided.
>
> If it is the Academy's Mission Statement to promote patient
> advocascy and
> the highest standards in patient care
> through education,literature and research, there should be no
> question as
> to what constitutes the highest levels of competency and ethics in
> the
> practise of orthotics and prosthetics. Has this not been
> predetermined thru
> CAAHEP?
>
> Certainly the practitioners and their professional and society
> associations,
> NAAOP, AAOP,IAOP and credentialing organizations, ABC and BOC cannot
> endorse
> any national legislation that would allow for lesser qualifications
> for a
> supplier or facility to provide the services of a trained
> professional.
>
> A consumer's perspective.
>
> Tony Barr
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 6:32 PM
> Subject: US-POLITICS: Competitive Bidding in O&P
>
>
> > US O&P Practitioners & Consumers:
> >
> > The Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) is addressing the
> concept of
> > Competitive Bidding as a means of further reducing the cost of
> Orthotic
> > Health Care Services. Also, if tradition holds true, this would
> eventually
> > impact the delivery of Prosthetic Services, as well.
> >
> > As you know, a significant portion of providing comprehensive O&P
> care
> > involves professional clinical services. For this reason, it is
> felt that
> > competitive bidding is not appropriate, as it could have
> significant and
> far
> > reaching implications that would lead to a reduction in the
> quality of
> care
> > to those in need of these services.
> >
> > This is only one aspect of the issue, however, your thoughts and
> input on
> > this subject would be most appreciated as this is being addressed
> with
> HCFA.
> >
> > Should you wish to view specific information regarding this issue
> it can
> be
> > found at the following NAAOP URL or HYPERLINK:
> >
> > URL <URL Redacted>
> >
> > HYPERLINK <A
> HREF= <URL Redacted>>ALERT!
> > HCFA to Include Orthotic in Demonstration Project</A>
> >
> >
> > Additional Legislative my also be reached from the NAAOP Homepage
> at the
> > following URL or HYPERLINK
> >
> > URL <URL Redacted>
> >
> > HYPERLINK
> > <A HREF= http://www.oandp.com/organiza/naaop/index.htm >National
> Association
> > for the Advancement of Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP)</A>
> >
> > Thank You for whatever thoughts you may wish to share!
> >
> > Please remember to preface any replies to OANDP-L with
> US-POLITICS:
> >
> > John N. Billock, CPO, Co-Chairman
> > NAAOP Legislative Committee
> > Voice: 330-856-2553 Fax: 330-856-4619 E-mail:
> <Email Address Redacted>
> >
> > National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics &
> Prosthetics
> > 1875 Eye Street, N.W., 12th Floor
> > Washington, D.C. 20006-5409
> > NAAOP Voice: (202) 624-0064 Toll Free: (800) 622-6740 Fax:
> (202)
> > 737-2517
> > NAAOP Web Site: www.oandp.com/naaop E-mail: <Email Address Redacted>
> >
> >