Call To Arms

Call To Arms

Steven L. Fries, CPO

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
     Some words of encouragement seem to be in order following the efforts of
well over one hundred practitioners from every state in the nation who
presented their concerns to Congress last week as part of the AOPA Policy Forum in
Washington, DC. This was the first time I had chosen to participate in a
political exercise such as this because, like you, I had grown weary of unnecessary
Medicare audits, demands for copious amounts of documentation, arbitrary
denials, redeterminations, hearings, etc., and decided that something had to be
done. Filing appeals, writing letters and complaining to Medicare was not
making a significant difference despite the fact that, like you, I was operating in
good faith and submitting clean claims based clearly on medical need. My
feeling was that if I was not willing to take a personal stand and involve myself
in some organized attempt to resolve issues adversely affecting patient care
and the operation (survival) of my practice, indeed, our profession, then I no
longer had any right to complain. I chose to enlist in AOPA's ascent upon
Washington to make legislators and policymakers aware of the threats facing our
patients and our profession and discovered that I was able to play a part in a
very well organized campaign which will decide our goals, our objectives and
our future.
     It's do-or-die time. We are all acutely aware of the serious challenges
facing us and, as individuals and as a profession, we MUST become more
proactive in our efforts to overcome them. I would like to encourage as many
practitioners as possible to get involved by scheduling appointments with your local
congressional representatives, attending and actively participating in your
state meetings, supporting state licensure, making donations to the AOPA
political action committee and... by supporting the profession that is supporting
you. You are needed now! There is strength in numbers and we need to make our
voices heard! If you love what you do and would like to make a difference,
sign up today! Don't wait! If you would like to help change Medicare's
reimbursement policies, put an end to fraudulent billing by unqualified non-licensed
personnel, affect the SNF's non-payment for orthotics, challenge the PT's
attempts to expand their scope of practice to include what YOU have been
clinically trained to do and help to thaw the payment freeze that has been in effect
since 2003, then by all means, join the fray! Get involved! It is the mark of
a professional.
     I will step off of my soap box now, but needed to encourage as many as
possible to join this call to arms. It's important to us all and to the
patients we serve and care for. Thank you for indulging me on this most critical
matter.
With best wishes to all,
Steven Fries, LPO