end-user cost of compents???

end-user cost of compents???

Justin Foster

1/14/2003

Hi all-

I have a question...

I am going to speak in hypothetical terms here... Why does a hi-end
prosthetic foot cost so much from us (prosthetists)???

For example, why does Carbonium2000X which costs $1500 from the
manufacturer, bill out for $3500... while The Woody, which costs $89, bill
out for $200 ??? That is about the same percentage mark up for both items,
and they require about the same amount of work for the prosthetist to fit
and align correctly...

An analogy from my home industry:

A discount, low-performing pair of skiis cost a retail shop $75 per pair,
they may turn around and sell them for $275, making a profit of $200....

A high end pair of race-ready skiis wholesale at around $400, and retail
near the $600 mark, also netting the store $200 for doing the SAME WORK!!! -
that is, in each case they sold ONE pair of skiis!!!!

If we can afford to provide The Woody foot to people, and make $100 on it,
couldn't we sell the Carbonium2000X for $1700 instead of $3500, and still
be glad to have pocketed the $200 for doing the SAME WORK?!? - in this case
fitting/aligning ONE prosthetic foot!!!

Weird... seems like someone is getting screwed...

Justin Foster
Prosthetic Resident
CIRS - Palo Alto

P.S. the approximate prices I alluded to above are from the Medicare fee
schedule, and as such are a matter of public record.


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