Re: US Politics: Accepting a Congressional DME Freeze OR Competitive Bidding

Re: US Politics: Accepting a Congressional DME Freeze OR Competitive Bidding

Anthony T. Barr

12/2/2002

Thank you for your input Ron.

As an consumer organization, we are closely aligned with the Academy's Mission and Fulfillment of Purpose to:

* undertake all necessary action to accomplish the purposes herein set forth, or which are recognized as appropriate activities for associations, consistent with the public interest and that of orthotics and prosthetics field .

The Barr Foundation would like to generate more comments from the profession and specifically Academy members on supporting the freeze for DME in lieu of threat of competitive bidding for Medicare
O&P coverage.

It is my hope that the Academy's Government Relations Committee, whose responsibility is to focus on:

** articulating and advocating the needs and interests of O&P before legislative,administrative and judicial branches of local ,state and national government

We hope the Academy will rise to the occasion and truly represent the interests of the profession and the consumers.

Tony Barr

* / ** AAOP Bylaws Article 1 /Mission



 
----- Original Message -----
From: Gingras, Ron < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >; < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 10:47 AM
Subject: RE: [OANDP-L] US Politics: Accepting a Congressional DME Freeze OR Competitive Bidding


>
> Tony
>
> Once again you hit the nail on the head. It is time for the Academy to step
> up to the plate and represent high standards of consumer care and the O&P
> professionals that they claim to represent. Leaving the lobbying and policy
> making to AOPA regarding issues of O & P care is absurd. AOPA has too many
> other interests that come before the consumer and professional , its like
> leaving the fox in charge of the hen house. Clearly , the responsiblily to
> represent consumers and professionals falls squarely on the shoulders of the
> Academy. However, until its members insist on it , it will be doubtful that
> any change will take place.
> The Academy is best suited to educate congress through its mission of
> patient care advocacy and high standards of care for professionals .A good
> example of the success the Academy has achieved legislatively is project
> Quantem Leap. Through the legislative efforts of the Academy regarding
> Quantem Leap they were able to get over 1 million dollars from congress for
> education and reseach. Think of the possibilities.We the consumers and
> professionals need legislative representation on an ongoing basis not just
> for ad hoc programs such as Quantum Leap.
> Remember , it was the AOPA's legislation that has led to the erosion of
> educational qualification's nationally regarding qualified providers. Now,
> we, the professionals are paying thousands of dollars out of our pockets for
> the negotiated rule making to try to keep standards of care high enough to
> protect consumers.
> While the Academy is to be commended for their participation in the
> negotiated rulemaking sessions, if they had provided legislative
> representation initially this dilema could possibly have been avoided by
> blocking the legislation that AOPA pushed through.Until there is a strong
> voice for the consumer and professional AOPA will do as it wishes. It is
> time for the profession to move beyond Big Brother.
> Ron