American Politics - Hanger, Discounts, and Stuff
Brett R. Saunders
Description
Collection
Title:
American Politics - Hanger, Discounts, and Stuff
Creator:
Brett R. Saunders
Date:
7/24/2000
Text:
This thread seems to be heading to the question of Is what Hanger doing
right or proper?
Maybe it should be Is Hanger using unfair/predatory tactics to gain market
share in a way that would violate the law?
I am not an attorney and I don't play one on TV, but there are
questions...among them is....
1) Their behavior in watching the business volume OPNet sends to non Hanger
providers and changing their contracts from an exclusive ones so they can
come into each of those markets and compete as they wish.
2) Does the 50% pricing of SOGI and Lennox Hill, SeaFab and others
constitute selling products to HPO facilities below fair market value to
gain an unfair competitive advantage?
3) Do their recall clinics, in which they call Medicare patients on the
telephone, even after not being seen in a year, violate Medicare's provider
rules of conduct?
4) Do some of their marketing programs constitute providing an 'inducement
for referral' of patients in giving health care professionals supplies for
free or below cost?
5) Are some of the services they provide in an effort to gain market share
illegal (i.e. non FDA approved cranial molding helmets)?
And as far as our profession goes...why does ABC not step in and do
something about some of Hanger's practices in its accredited facilities?
Hanger staffs accredited offices with unlicensed practitioners.
They have delivered prosthetic devices (without definitive alignments) by
UPS.
They provide non FDA approved services for what should be regulated items
(helmets).
I truly believe there are many good practitioners in the Hanger company.
Some really great people in our field work for Hanger. For those people, I
hope you will understand that I am not out to just bash what you do or your
company. There are a number of issues out there, and if the actions of the
company are truly the right thing to do - for the right reasons, they will
be able to withstand the light of day. You are the 1,000 pound gorilla and
have such a substantial position in the American marketplace that you carry
a huge target on your back. Everyone looks to see what you are doing.
Brett R. Saunders, CPO, FAAOP
right or proper?
Maybe it should be Is Hanger using unfair/predatory tactics to gain market
share in a way that would violate the law?
I am not an attorney and I don't play one on TV, but there are
questions...among them is....
1) Their behavior in watching the business volume OPNet sends to non Hanger
providers and changing their contracts from an exclusive ones so they can
come into each of those markets and compete as they wish.
2) Does the 50% pricing of SOGI and Lennox Hill, SeaFab and others
constitute selling products to HPO facilities below fair market value to
gain an unfair competitive advantage?
3) Do their recall clinics, in which they call Medicare patients on the
telephone, even after not being seen in a year, violate Medicare's provider
rules of conduct?
4) Do some of their marketing programs constitute providing an 'inducement
for referral' of patients in giving health care professionals supplies for
free or below cost?
5) Are some of the services they provide in an effort to gain market share
illegal (i.e. non FDA approved cranial molding helmets)?
And as far as our profession goes...why does ABC not step in and do
something about some of Hanger's practices in its accredited facilities?
Hanger staffs accredited offices with unlicensed practitioners.
They have delivered prosthetic devices (without definitive alignments) by
UPS.
They provide non FDA approved services for what should be regulated items
(helmets).
I truly believe there are many good practitioners in the Hanger company.
Some really great people in our field work for Hanger. For those people, I
hope you will understand that I am not out to just bash what you do or your
company. There are a number of issues out there, and if the actions of the
company are truly the right thing to do - for the right reasons, they will
be able to withstand the light of day. You are the 1,000 pound gorilla and
have such a substantial position in the American marketplace that you carry
a huge target on your back. Everyone looks to see what you are doing.
Brett R. Saunders, CPO, FAAOP
Citation
Brett R. Saunders, “American Politics - Hanger, Discounts, and Stuff,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214503.
