The hoopla
Tom Brady
Description
Collection
Title:
The hoopla
Creator:
Tom Brady
Date:
8/1/2000
Text:
I have been reading for the last 1/2 hr all the smoke about hanger. I would like to state a few point if I may.
1. I am of the firm belief, as a ex: Hanger So. East employee, that there are few practitioners that I know of that are concentrating on the bottom line over there Pt's well being.
2.That the quality of work could be considered no different than that being put out by privately owned offices.
3. When it comes to a level playing field that competition is good.
Here in lies the problem as I see it. Fear is a powerful thing and competitive bidding is something I believe we should all fear for a few reasons.
1. once they institute the process the low man wins.
2. Who can undercut the best?
3. Right now you have ins. co. out there that regularly pay 30% less than Medicare. Who is offering these deep discounts?
4. Are we so blind as to think know one will find out?
5. Once the small private practice is out of business what do you think is going to happen to the pay scale at the big boys offices?
Once again the Ins. co are well aware of volume discounts. They do it all the time. Why do some of us give a carrier that is responsible for 10% of bottom line a better discount than a carrier that is responsible for 60-80% of our bottom line and do you really think that that it wont be noticed? We as an industry, through competition, have cut our nose off to spite our face and now all will pay the price for the few.
Now to the level playing field.
How is competitive bidding being set up. Once the bidding process is over and done with what happens to the Pt's I have seen that may now have to drive 70-100 Miles to see a qualified practitioner? ( If I may add I think this is a violation of MC Pt right to see a provider of there choice) Remember there aren't that many of us. One of the reasons I left Hanger as well as the big city was because I was tiered of being used as slave labor. I don't understand the math when a practitioner does 60% of the work to make 15% of the money.
This to me is the part that burns the worst.
I have a problem with any co. or industry utilizing legislation and/or its processes to consolidate market share.
For those hanger employees that don't see a problem. By the employees that I talk to, you can't make enough in your offices now. How are you going to feel when you have to do twice the work for the same amount of pay or less. Because we as private offices have lost 60-80% of our business and possibly can't stay open.
Oh I could always take a job with Hanger. I could be a co worker. (please pardon the sarcasm)
I have heard that Palmetto GBA ( AKA Blue Cross Blue Shield) is working with HCFA on competitive bidding (no conflict of interest here). Can anyone please tell me who else is working on it and where I can get Info re: Competitive bidding and the format which is being considered? I would like to know so that I could possible plan to deal with this. Instead of having to guess as to what is going on.
Thomas Brady CPO
Total Orthotic & Prosthetic Systems Inc.
P.S. We DO NOT & WILL NOT give private carriers below MC pricing.............................. Yes it has hurt. Not only the Pt's that had to drive 70-100 miles but also the bottom line. But we didn't want to be the one responsible for the nightmare we all might face.
1. I am of the firm belief, as a ex: Hanger So. East employee, that there are few practitioners that I know of that are concentrating on the bottom line over there Pt's well being.
2.That the quality of work could be considered no different than that being put out by privately owned offices.
3. When it comes to a level playing field that competition is good.
Here in lies the problem as I see it. Fear is a powerful thing and competitive bidding is something I believe we should all fear for a few reasons.
1. once they institute the process the low man wins.
2. Who can undercut the best?
3. Right now you have ins. co. out there that regularly pay 30% less than Medicare. Who is offering these deep discounts?
4. Are we so blind as to think know one will find out?
5. Once the small private practice is out of business what do you think is going to happen to the pay scale at the big boys offices?
Once again the Ins. co are well aware of volume discounts. They do it all the time. Why do some of us give a carrier that is responsible for 10% of bottom line a better discount than a carrier that is responsible for 60-80% of our bottom line and do you really think that that it wont be noticed? We as an industry, through competition, have cut our nose off to spite our face and now all will pay the price for the few.
Now to the level playing field.
How is competitive bidding being set up. Once the bidding process is over and done with what happens to the Pt's I have seen that may now have to drive 70-100 Miles to see a qualified practitioner? ( If I may add I think this is a violation of MC Pt right to see a provider of there choice) Remember there aren't that many of us. One of the reasons I left Hanger as well as the big city was because I was tiered of being used as slave labor. I don't understand the math when a practitioner does 60% of the work to make 15% of the money.
This to me is the part that burns the worst.
I have a problem with any co. or industry utilizing legislation and/or its processes to consolidate market share.
For those hanger employees that don't see a problem. By the employees that I talk to, you can't make enough in your offices now. How are you going to feel when you have to do twice the work for the same amount of pay or less. Because we as private offices have lost 60-80% of our business and possibly can't stay open.
Oh I could always take a job with Hanger. I could be a co worker. (please pardon the sarcasm)
I have heard that Palmetto GBA ( AKA Blue Cross Blue Shield) is working with HCFA on competitive bidding (no conflict of interest here). Can anyone please tell me who else is working on it and where I can get Info re: Competitive bidding and the format which is being considered? I would like to know so that I could possible plan to deal with this. Instead of having to guess as to what is going on.
Thomas Brady CPO
Total Orthotic & Prosthetic Systems Inc.
P.S. We DO NOT & WILL NOT give private carriers below MC pricing.............................. Yes it has hurt. Not only the Pt's that had to drive 70-100 miles but also the bottom line. But we didn't want to be the one responsible for the nightmare we all might face.
Citation
Tom Brady, “The hoopla,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214477.
