Response Summary - microprocessor knee usable life?

Response Summary - microprocessor knee usable life?

Ted Trower

1/10/2006

My original question was:

I have several clients at or approaching the end of the warrantee
period on their microprocessor knees. So far I've not found any of
their third party payors willing to pay for the extended
warrantee. Can anyone share their experience as to what has happened
when you attempted to bill for replacing a failed or malfunctioning
microprocessor knee?


Replies follow:
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Include this question. Would it be the same as for any repair? Or not?

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If I were in your position, I would simply send a letter to the Insurance
Authorization Supervisor requesting prior authorization for the extended
warranty and advise and prove to them that this extended warranty will
ultimately save the insurance company money in lieu of a replacement. The
Supervisor can override authorizations if justified.

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We have had one, this past summer. We billed the patient's BC/BS and
they did pay their usual 80% on the repair.

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I just billed for the repair. I did not extend the warranty. If Mauch unit
leaks and needs repair we billed for the repair and labor. We did the same
for the C-leg

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I would appreciate you passing along the responses. I'm in the same
boat, wondering how big this issue is about to be.

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>With the last three patients reaching the end of their warranty we
>offered the extension to them and their insurance companies. None of
>the insurance companies were willing to pay insurance for the
>knees. Only one patient paid for an extended warranty and he
>submitted the bill to his attorney for workmen's comp.but he paid
>for it himself. In some of the other cases the patients were in need
>of major repairs or replacement and so then went for a new
>prosthesis which included a new knee. The way the insurance
>companies are cutting back and the rates at which they are
>reimbursing us I try to convince my patients that the warranty is
>useful but have not been very successful in that endeavor.

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End of replies.

The one option no one mentioned would be for us to purchase the
extended warrantee ourselves and to bill the clients insurance for
any service he requires.

Thanks to everyone who responded.



Ted A. Trower C.P.O.
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, Michigan, USA

www.amputee.com

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