Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations

tony barr

Description

Title:

Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations

Creator:

tony barr

Date:

3/5/2004

Text:

That is my read David.

The alphabet soup war, was calmed in the now licensed states and had no
casulaties,except the elimination of uncertified providers. However, O&P
providers in unregulated states is again energized by the industry that
controls it.

Instead of talk of unification of creditialled members we should be
addressing regulation and education.
Instead of consolidation and nne meeting concept of profession and industry
we should be seperating O&P from DME to better educate to third party payers
as to the degree of education that is required to deliver comprehensive O&P.

This profession (?) continues on its path of self destruction and attempts
to distract practitioners from the real issues at hand. Enough qualified
providers to deliver O&Pservices and goods of manufacturers.

Industry interests, and make no mistake about it, that they are and have
always been in control of the profession and the driving force of all
legislation, consolidation and unification proposals, are dead set on
encouraging internal strife between the two credentialing certifees to
avoid regulating the O&P profession and more importantly the much needed
price controls of their products.

Perhaps the ACA CEO/chairwoman recent cry for manufacturers to reduce prices
in light of the recent price freeze policy well be considered?
I don't think so.

Manufactures have little concern of the welfare of less than 5,000 certified
O&P providers who buys their products when there are over 100,000 PTs and
OTs backed up to be the licensed providers.

Will the Medicare price freeze effecting individual providers of O&P care
effect manufacturer's prices or profits?
Do you think your cost of O&P components, supplies and devices will be
voluntarily reduced ?

Can you imagine BOC offering an incentive to ABC practitioners in becoming
BOC certifees that there will be no continuing education required to their
certifies and that ABC open door policy to BOC certifees with no suggestion
of screening of prior complaints, criminal conviction records,etc.

BTW doesn't the recent open door policy for BOC to join the ranks of ABC
without further qualification, automatically make them eligible for Academy
membership! Was this blessed by the O&P professional leadership and more
importantly the membership.

Past Academy President Gary (Lambo) Lamb LPO and chairman of the legislative
advocacy committee for AAOP whom I have a lot of respect for, sees thru
these certification distractions and implementation of the Mixed Bag of
the recent Medicare Reform and failed consolidation and unification
attempts.

Of bigger importance that needs to be screamed loud and clear is any state
without licensure for O&P has no standing.
This means that the PTs can simply change their practice act in that state
to provide O&P care. If the doctors in that state don't catch it fight and
kill it,it will happen. Then it could become illegal for Orthotists and
prosthetists to deliver the care they have traditionally provided
Gary Lamb via O&P Business News Feb 2004 edition

Gee Gary, didn't see any regulation workshops at the recent Academy meeting
in New Orleans!
Is it just past Academy presidents that support regulation of O&P ?

Academy members ,what is your read on this the ABC and BOC unification
proposal.
What is the professional association's opinion in the need to separating
DME from O&P?

BOC certifees, do you agree with a no continuing education policy and your
chairman's statements that the delivery of comprehensive O&P services
requires no formal education?

But please in your replies do disclose that in addition to being
practitioners, many of you are also manufactures of DME and O&P, a much more
lucrative position in today's environment.

-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 3:50 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC Negotiations

Am I understanding this correctly? ABC is inviting all BOC members to
become ABC and BOC is inviting all ABC members to become BOC. There are
still 2 (now angry) groups. How is this going to help fight for our
industry on capital hill?

David Falk, ???

                          

Citation

tony barr, “Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222591.