US Politics: The ABC-BOC Unification Dilemma!
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Title:
US Politics: The ABC-BOC Unification Dilemma!
Text:
O&P Colleagues:
It is with great trepidation that I respond in this public forum regarding
the failed negotiations to consolidate the ABC and BOC credentialing Boards, as
I feel the OANDP-L listserv is not the appropriate forum for such discussions.
Regardless, given the cat is already out of the bag, I will keep my comments
to what I believe are key issues in this debate.
I, too, am very disappointed by the failed efforts of ABC and BOC to reach a
negotiated end to this ongoing dispute, which predictably will only lead to
further divisions between and within the ranks of both credentialing bodies, as
has already been witnessed over the past week!
Having been a primary participant in the failed efforts of the 10-month
Medicare/CMS Negotiated Rulemaking Process and coming to grips with my own personal
feelings about the appropriate pathways for one to be identified as a
qualified practitioner in the provision of O&P care, it became apparent the two
organizations needed to consolidate. The primary reason for this being -- to begin
the process of laying the foundation for a single credentialing board that
could better assure the quality of O&P care being provided to disabled persons
needing our services.
In my opinion, protecting the disabled public by assuring that O&P care is
being provided by appropriately trained, educated, and qualified O&P
practitioners was the goal of the ABC Board in their negotiations with BOC, knowing the
personal integrity of the individuals on the Board.
Although I may not agree with what appears to be a “tit for tat” post
negotiation skirmish ($75 Vs a free application and credentialing process), it still
boils down to an inevitable grandfathering process that must be accepted in
good faith by both organizations! If you are practicing in a state with O&P
Licensure Laws, you may understand this better than the rest -- whether you find
it an acceptable reality or not! The fact is however, grandfathering is and
always will be a part of any Licensure effort and, for that matter, any
federally regulated credentialing process, should it come to that! Again, we may
not like it, but we must accept it, because it won't happen any other way!!
This same scenario is at the heart of the effort to consolidate the ABC and
BOC Boards. Given the varying levels and differences between the qualifying
and credentialing processes for individuals providing O&P care, it will take
individuals on both sides with the integrity and willingness, given all the
facts, to hold the disabled persons need as being the primary purpose of this
consolidation effort.
I do not personally know the members of the BOC Board; however, I do know the
members of the ABC Board and have the greatest amount of respect and trust in
them -- that they will or have made the best decision without compromising
the integrity of our profession and the needs of those needing our services.
I fully appreciate and understand the sacrifices individuals have made to
achieve their personal and professionals goals -- for I too have been there and
done that! There is nothing I or anyone else could say that will make this
situation feel any better to those who have given of their time and resources!
Regardless, we must somehow move forward and place our trust in those who are
making these tough decisions and that doesn't mean you should stand by and not
voice your opinions!!
Given the times we are in, I firmly believe the unification of ABC and BOC is
essential to the future stability, growth and, most importantly, the stature
of our profession within today's healthcare environment. It should be obvious
to everyone heath care insurers, government agencies included, are truly not
looking at the differences between ABC and BOC credentialing processes -- nor
do they seem to care despite efforts that have been made to educate them. One
thing is for sure -- they are getting a mixed bag of messages regarding who's
qualified to provide what and it doesn't just include an ABC or BOC
practitioner! Hearing from one credentialing voice would certainly help to clarify
this, if ABC and BOC could come together.
I also believe that every State should be pursuing Licensure, as it is the
only other and most appropriately accepted way to achieve legally recognizable
stature of a profession and its practitioners. Had it been pursued years ago,
we would not find ourselves in the mess we are in today and ABC or BOC would
be primarily in the business of credentialing O&P facilities and administering
or overseeing the state Licensure credentialing exams for practitioners. It
is something we should have pursued years ago!
I only wish there was another forum to discuss these issues openly amongst
the interested parties and that somehow ABC and BOC can come back to the table
and continue to work out their differences in good faith! However, should this
not be possible, I will continue to support the ABC Board and my credential,
even though I practice within a State that has O&P Licensure!!
Respectfully,
John N. Billock, CPO/L, FAAOP
Warren, Ohio
It is with great trepidation that I respond in this public forum regarding
the failed negotiations to consolidate the ABC and BOC credentialing Boards, as
I feel the OANDP-L listserv is not the appropriate forum for such discussions.
Regardless, given the cat is already out of the bag, I will keep my comments
to what I believe are key issues in this debate.
I, too, am very disappointed by the failed efforts of ABC and BOC to reach a
negotiated end to this ongoing dispute, which predictably will only lead to
further divisions between and within the ranks of both credentialing bodies, as
has already been witnessed over the past week!
Having been a primary participant in the failed efforts of the 10-month
Medicare/CMS Negotiated Rulemaking Process and coming to grips with my own personal
feelings about the appropriate pathways for one to be identified as a
qualified practitioner in the provision of O&P care, it became apparent the two
organizations needed to consolidate. The primary reason for this being -- to begin
the process of laying the foundation for a single credentialing board that
could better assure the quality of O&P care being provided to disabled persons
needing our services.
In my opinion, protecting the disabled public by assuring that O&P care is
being provided by appropriately trained, educated, and qualified O&P
practitioners was the goal of the ABC Board in their negotiations with BOC, knowing the
personal integrity of the individuals on the Board.
Although I may not agree with what appears to be a “tit for tat” post
negotiation skirmish ($75 Vs a free application and credentialing process), it still
boils down to an inevitable grandfathering process that must be accepted in
good faith by both organizations! If you are practicing in a state with O&P
Licensure Laws, you may understand this better than the rest -- whether you find
it an acceptable reality or not! The fact is however, grandfathering is and
always will be a part of any Licensure effort and, for that matter, any
federally regulated credentialing process, should it come to that! Again, we may
not like it, but we must accept it, because it won't happen any other way!!
This same scenario is at the heart of the effort to consolidate the ABC and
BOC Boards. Given the varying levels and differences between the qualifying
and credentialing processes for individuals providing O&P care, it will take
individuals on both sides with the integrity and willingness, given all the
facts, to hold the disabled persons need as being the primary purpose of this
consolidation effort.
I do not personally know the members of the BOC Board; however, I do know the
members of the ABC Board and have the greatest amount of respect and trust in
them -- that they will or have made the best decision without compromising
the integrity of our profession and the needs of those needing our services.
I fully appreciate and understand the sacrifices individuals have made to
achieve their personal and professionals goals -- for I too have been there and
done that! There is nothing I or anyone else could say that will make this
situation feel any better to those who have given of their time and resources!
Regardless, we must somehow move forward and place our trust in those who are
making these tough decisions and that doesn't mean you should stand by and not
voice your opinions!!
Given the times we are in, I firmly believe the unification of ABC and BOC is
essential to the future stability, growth and, most importantly, the stature
of our profession within today's healthcare environment. It should be obvious
to everyone heath care insurers, government agencies included, are truly not
looking at the differences between ABC and BOC credentialing processes -- nor
do they seem to care despite efforts that have been made to educate them. One
thing is for sure -- they are getting a mixed bag of messages regarding who's
qualified to provide what and it doesn't just include an ABC or BOC
practitioner! Hearing from one credentialing voice would certainly help to clarify
this, if ABC and BOC could come together.
I also believe that every State should be pursuing Licensure, as it is the
only other and most appropriately accepted way to achieve legally recognizable
stature of a profession and its practitioners. Had it been pursued years ago,
we would not find ourselves in the mess we are in today and ABC or BOC would
be primarily in the business of credentialing O&P facilities and administering
or overseeing the state Licensure credentialing exams for practitioners. It
is something we should have pursued years ago!
I only wish there was another forum to discuss these issues openly amongst
the interested parties and that somehow ABC and BOC can come back to the table
and continue to work out their differences in good faith! However, should this
not be possible, I will continue to support the ABC Board and my credential,
even though I practice within a State that has O&P Licensure!!
Respectfully,
John N. Billock, CPO/L, FAAOP
Warren, Ohio
Citation
“US Politics: The ABC-BOC Unification Dilemma!,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222849.
