Re: Seeking Source of Proponents of O&P Regulation in New York / Follow up
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Seeking Source of Proponents of O&P Regulation in New York / Follow up
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
4/5/2006
Text:
Thank all of you who responded to my above solicitation.
James McCulley is the lobbyist representing the New York Chapter of the
Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, for the law firm of McCulley &
Associates Inc., in their quest of enacting O&P regulation in the state of
New York.
I hope all of you that replied and those that didn't, will attend the
NYSAAOP meeting and licensure presentation Friday April 7th at 11 o'clock,
at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott Hotel.
The membership fully realizes the importance and the future to their lively
hoods, not to mention better ensuring patient protection ,to support O&P
regulation.
New York legislators, like those in many other states, have been facing
budget balancing challenges over the past few years, and the needed funds
have not been available to regulate.
The O&P providers in New York must now belly up to the bar and pay the cost
of regulation to stay in business and add the much needed credibility to
their 'profession'.
A recent described scandal that received media exposure nationwide and
resulted in multiple class action lawsuits is one of many that occurs
everyday in this unregulated health care industry.
The accused New York certified provider and accrediated facility remain in
business.
It may very well help streamline regulation efforts since the cost of fraud
and abuse by a unregulated health care profession is at all the New York
taxpayers expense and has no oversight nor accountability thru the current
(optional ) credentialing system.
The consensus seems increasingly to focus on acceptance of the oft-repeated
homily: Think about it: the person who cuts your hair is licensed, but the
person who makes a prosthesis or straightens your daughter's spine does not
have to be licensed.
It is the only health care 'profession' I know of that is not licensed in
all 50 states.
There are 10 other states that now require Orthotic and Prosthetic
practitioners to be licensed. They are Alabama, Florida, Illinois, New
Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Georgia .
Effective October 1, 2005, Medicare no longer pays individuals in these
states for providing prosthetic and some custom orthotic devices unless they
are licensed.
New York Orthotic and Prosthetic practitioners have the ability to
profoundly impact the quality of life of the patients they serve, both for
the good, and potentially for the bad.
Requiring a license cannot guarantee every practitioner be totally
competent, just as a license won't guarantee every hair stylist will give
you a good haircut. Requiring a license will, however, provide the
residents of the state of New York with legal recourse if they are harmed
by an irresponsible provider or incompetently fitted prosthesis other than
a filing a civil lawsuit.
Regulation and its subsequent enforcement will also rid your 'profession' of
folks that is giving it(and you) a bad name and bring better benefits to
those you treat.
Tony Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
561-394-6514
.
James McCulley is the lobbyist representing the New York Chapter of the
Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, for the law firm of McCulley &
Associates Inc., in their quest of enacting O&P regulation in the state of
New York.
I hope all of you that replied and those that didn't, will attend the
NYSAAOP meeting and licensure presentation Friday April 7th at 11 o'clock,
at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott Hotel.
The membership fully realizes the importance and the future to their lively
hoods, not to mention better ensuring patient protection ,to support O&P
regulation.
New York legislators, like those in many other states, have been facing
budget balancing challenges over the past few years, and the needed funds
have not been available to regulate.
The O&P providers in New York must now belly up to the bar and pay the cost
of regulation to stay in business and add the much needed credibility to
their 'profession'.
A recent described scandal that received media exposure nationwide and
resulted in multiple class action lawsuits is one of many that occurs
everyday in this unregulated health care industry.
The accused New York certified provider and accrediated facility remain in
business.
It may very well help streamline regulation efforts since the cost of fraud
and abuse by a unregulated health care profession is at all the New York
taxpayers expense and has no oversight nor accountability thru the current
(optional ) credentialing system.
The consensus seems increasingly to focus on acceptance of the oft-repeated
homily: Think about it: the person who cuts your hair is licensed, but the
person who makes a prosthesis or straightens your daughter's spine does not
have to be licensed.
It is the only health care 'profession' I know of that is not licensed in
all 50 states.
There are 10 other states that now require Orthotic and Prosthetic
practitioners to be licensed. They are Alabama, Florida, Illinois, New
Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Georgia .
Effective October 1, 2005, Medicare no longer pays individuals in these
states for providing prosthetic and some custom orthotic devices unless they
are licensed.
New York Orthotic and Prosthetic practitioners have the ability to
profoundly impact the quality of life of the patients they serve, both for
the good, and potentially for the bad.
Requiring a license cannot guarantee every practitioner be totally
competent, just as a license won't guarantee every hair stylist will give
you a good haircut. Requiring a license will, however, provide the
residents of the state of New York with legal recourse if they are harmed
by an irresponsible provider or incompetently fitted prosthesis other than
a filing a civil lawsuit.
Regulation and its subsequent enforcement will also rid your 'profession' of
folks that is giving it(and you) a bad name and bring better benefits to
those you treat.
Tony Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
561-394-6514
.
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Seeking Source of Proponents of O&P Regulation in New York / Follow up,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/226706.
