Re: Step Smart AFO Responses

Re: Step Smart AFO Responses

Ted Trower

7/13/2006

My original question was:


Your posting prompted me to look up the Jacob
Joint. This lead me to the home page of the manufacturer of the Step Smart.
<URL Redacted>

Anyone who is concerned about encroachment upon
our profession by other groups might find this
document interesting. In it, one of our own is
encouraging Podiatrists to stop referring AFO's to orthotists.
<URL Redacted>

When we are all ready to stop slitting the throat
of the profession to put a few coins in our own
pocket we may have some hope of seeing the
profession make some progress in the realms of
respect AND reimbursement. Personally given this
type of marketing from the manufacturer I don't
expect that I'll be fitting any of his
products. I don't intend to let him have it both ways.

-----------------------------------
Replies follow
================================================================

You would think insurance companies would take note of these type of
situations with doctors billing for visits and devices which already
include the office visits. Sounds like fraud to me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I particularly like the recommendation to bill
for the orthosis and the office visits--which is double dipping!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing I think should be examined in detail is the fraud that is
occurring with the blaze AFO (I am using that term very loosely).
The manufacturer claims it is custom when the only thing sent to the
fabrication facility is a paper marked with x's and some measurements,
they recommend the L1970 code, if I remember correctly that code states
custom molded. I would have sent this to the whole list serve, but
lost my directions on how to do that...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for bringing this to my
attention. I am appalled and shocked that a
professional member of our society could be so bold
and brazen about destroying our entire profession to
increase his bottom line. It is no wonder we are
never taken seriously as a profession.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stir it up Brother Ted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is that product Ian Engleman's?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for sharing the information about encroachment. This guy not only
wants someone else to do the work but wants to show them how to make it easy
and entice them further by showing them how much profit they are missing.
It would be easier and more profitable to him if he just offered to sell
ropes pre-tied with a hang man's noose to O & P practitioners.........

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well said, Ted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Take a trip around the website www.kneeshop.com

I had the pages of this web site sent to me by a workers comp carrier,
along with a denial for a custom orthosis, insisting that I fit a 5'2,
185lb women in one of these braces to see if it will work, or if
she will even wear one. Forget the weight/height ratios...the thigh
calf ratios are the real scare...

Thanks to all those companies featured on the website for their
participation, and a special thanks to those who continually seek the
lowest common denominator, and are now responsible for forcing this
woman into an orthosis that will be less than adequate. An OTS probably
won't be adequate, and it certainly will be less than comfortable.

...on-line orthosis, O&P exclusivity networks, continual reductions
in reimbursements due to negotiated contracts, stock & bill programs,
etc...etc...

...and in their quest for the brass ring, they left their character to
wither like leaves on the forest floor...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hi Ted,

Thank you for expressing your concerns below.

Insightful Products is loyal to the O&P
profession and our company would prefer to work
with ABC practitioners. We regularly and
preferably refer patients to certified Orthotists.

Unfortunately, Orthotists tend to dismiss this
low profile solution without full
consideration. We know from direct responses
from patients and practitioners that this design
has functional merit. Our study of drop foot
over the last two years has uncovered some
overlooked biomechanical considerations. I will
be speaking about these in the upcoming NE
Chapter meeting. Also, look for my article in Advance – Directors in Rehab.

Please review the changes that we have made to
our web site based on your comments below. You
may have to refresh the page due to the cache in your computer.

Regards,

Ian Engelman, M.S. CPO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

am curious if you have heard from:

Ian Kenton Engelman, CPO

Insightful Products, LSC
2 Lincoln Ave, Ste 8
Scarborough, ME 04074-9783

The owner of Inisghtful Products.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Isn't drop foot outside of a Podiatrist scope of practice?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK. We think it’s finally out and deleted.

Thanks for everything.

================================================================
End of responses.
-----------------------

At this time the document in question is no
longer available on-line. I'm please with both
the tone and the speed of Mr.Engleman's response
even though I remain disappointed that the
material was created in the first place.


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

www.amputee.com

___________________________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This email message, including any attachments, is
for the sole use of the intended recipient (s)
and may contain confidential and privileged
information. Any unauthorized review, use,
disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If
you are not the intended recipient, please
contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy
all copies of the original message.

                          ********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.

If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>

OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.

Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.