Re: usual suspects...
HRA/STP
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: usual suspects...
Creator:
HRA/STP
Date:
9/22/2003
Text:
Mr. Spears,
Well Said.
Having recently started my practice, I was in disbelief at the amount of
reimbursement on some items. But I soon realized that I'd better take
it to keep my doors open. It's amazing how much money goes back out the
door. And independents are at a disadvantage because of exclusive
insurance contracts and all contracts you do get are discounted.
Insurance companys couldn't care less that you're certified. I had a
dme provider approach me saying that he wanted to market KOs in my
area. If I'd see the patient and cast them, he'd pay me $100 each. At
the time, right after opening my doors, I actually considered doing it.
Looking back, I'd have been shooting myself in the foot.
Justin, it's good to question things and to test the boundaries. I
don't fault you for that. But, until you've had to pay the bills, be
careful of what you wish for.
Harold Anderson CO
Roadrunner Orthotics
M. Britt Spears CPO wrote:
>Justin,
>
>When I was young and just starting out in my education to learn the vocation that I had chosen, I was in disbeleif about the amounts of reimbursment likewise. After many years of practical experience-over 25, I decided to open up my own practice. For the few items that have the decent reimbursment, there are dozens that have the breakeven or worse than that-red-ink reimbursement. These include the items that we have to provide everyday such as prafo boots, spreading hand splints, orthopedic shoes the list goes on and on.
>
>As a business owner, I have found that the majority of items delivered are of the low reimbursement variety. Furthermore, as a business owner and a ABC Certified practitoner, I feel that the patient is being put in harms-way whenever a sales rep touches a patient. The sales rep may have had a full 1 hour course on fitting their brand of knee brace, but they have no idea on how to PROPERLY fit a patient. Nor have they any business touching a patient. In some of the states, that sales rep would be in jail. The patient has no idea about the level of care that they are being provided. Would you let a physicians assistant perform surgery on any of your family? How about a sales rep fit you with a Halo? NICE....
>
>As a business owner, I would also be looking at the attitude of a prospective employee towards the profitability of MY company. This is a small field and a lot of business owners look at the list server. You know I'll be willing to bet that you expect to make a decent salary, you want benefits, you want raises, you want a bunch of perks. In your little world, that cannot happen. ALL of those require company profitability. There are also people in the company that do not produce income such as purchasing, clerical staff, accounting, custodial staff, technicians and others. The ONLY people in an O&P facility that produce income are the practitioners by delivering a product. Somehow those HUGE shameful profits just seem to vaporize once the bills are paid. Sometimes you even don't get paid because one of your employees forgot to get a simple piece of paper signed or perhaps they neglected to check benefits. WAKE UP-YOU MUST BE SLEEPING!!!!
>
>I'm in a rural situation, most of my patients are Medicaid and low income. I have to provide services to them at the Medicare price. Realize that I may never collect the remaining 20% of the balance. So my profit margin is relatively low to begin with. Maybe one day you'll see the true meaning of this field. It's not the profitability, it's the patient care. That's why most of us entered in the first place. The business actually puts food on my table. So if I do not make a profit, you may see me in the food line.
>
>I wish you would take-up the offer for the plane fare, room and board, that was offered earlier. Once you get out of your protected environment, you may actually see what's really happening in O&P.
>
>M. Britt Spears CPO
>Spears Prosthetics and Orthotics
> <URL Redacted>
>
>
>
>
Well Said.
Having recently started my practice, I was in disbelief at the amount of
reimbursement on some items. But I soon realized that I'd better take
it to keep my doors open. It's amazing how much money goes back out the
door. And independents are at a disadvantage because of exclusive
insurance contracts and all contracts you do get are discounted.
Insurance companys couldn't care less that you're certified. I had a
dme provider approach me saying that he wanted to market KOs in my
area. If I'd see the patient and cast them, he'd pay me $100 each. At
the time, right after opening my doors, I actually considered doing it.
Looking back, I'd have been shooting myself in the foot.
Justin, it's good to question things and to test the boundaries. I
don't fault you for that. But, until you've had to pay the bills, be
careful of what you wish for.
Harold Anderson CO
Roadrunner Orthotics
M. Britt Spears CPO wrote:
>Justin,
>
>When I was young and just starting out in my education to learn the vocation that I had chosen, I was in disbeleif about the amounts of reimbursment likewise. After many years of practical experience-over 25, I decided to open up my own practice. For the few items that have the decent reimbursment, there are dozens that have the breakeven or worse than that-red-ink reimbursement. These include the items that we have to provide everyday such as prafo boots, spreading hand splints, orthopedic shoes the list goes on and on.
>
>As a business owner, I have found that the majority of items delivered are of the low reimbursement variety. Furthermore, as a business owner and a ABC Certified practitoner, I feel that the patient is being put in harms-way whenever a sales rep touches a patient. The sales rep may have had a full 1 hour course on fitting their brand of knee brace, but they have no idea on how to PROPERLY fit a patient. Nor have they any business touching a patient. In some of the states, that sales rep would be in jail. The patient has no idea about the level of care that they are being provided. Would you let a physicians assistant perform surgery on any of your family? How about a sales rep fit you with a Halo? NICE....
>
>As a business owner, I would also be looking at the attitude of a prospective employee towards the profitability of MY company. This is a small field and a lot of business owners look at the list server. You know I'll be willing to bet that you expect to make a decent salary, you want benefits, you want raises, you want a bunch of perks. In your little world, that cannot happen. ALL of those require company profitability. There are also people in the company that do not produce income such as purchasing, clerical staff, accounting, custodial staff, technicians and others. The ONLY people in an O&P facility that produce income are the practitioners by delivering a product. Somehow those HUGE shameful profits just seem to vaporize once the bills are paid. Sometimes you even don't get paid because one of your employees forgot to get a simple piece of paper signed or perhaps they neglected to check benefits. WAKE UP-YOU MUST BE SLEEPING!!!!
>
>I'm in a rural situation, most of my patients are Medicaid and low income. I have to provide services to them at the Medicare price. Realize that I may never collect the remaining 20% of the balance. So my profit margin is relatively low to begin with. Maybe one day you'll see the true meaning of this field. It's not the profitability, it's the patient care. That's why most of us entered in the first place. The business actually puts food on my table. So if I do not make a profit, you may see me in the food line.
>
>I wish you would take-up the offer for the plane fare, room and board, that was offered earlier. Once you get out of your protected environment, you may actually see what's really happening in O&P.
>
>M. Britt Spears CPO
>Spears Prosthetics and Orthotics
> <URL Redacted>
>
>
>
>
Citation
HRA/STP, “Re: usual suspects...,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/221842.
