Re: National P&O Contracting
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: National P&O Contracting
Text:
Indepedent Insurance Contracting and Consulting
Thank you Ms. Smisthson for your interest. We always appreciate the
opportunity to provide insight to our little piece of the health care dollar.
First, let me clarify your statement that Mr. Andreason and I are partners.
This is untrue. I am the managing partner of American Orthopedics, Inc.,
Columbus, Ohio. This is how I make my living, and have done so for more years than I
want to count. It is true that I was one of the five founding members of
POINT Health Centers, and currently serve as a consultant to VGM/POINT. This
requires 4 meetings per year and the reimbursement for my time is far less per hour
than I could make in my practice! I do continue to participate because I
honestly believe that the independent O&P provider will consistently provide
higher quality and more cost efficient care to the physically challenged client,
if given the opportunity. Why do I think this? Because I have competed with,
attended clinics with and cleaned up the messes of large O&P providers for
over 35 years.
How is OPGA different? Well for one, any ABC certified O&P provider can
become an OPGA member. There has never been (and I do not think there will ever be)
limits as to who can be providers based on geography or competition as long
as they meet the minimum criteria. I have yet to hear of an independent O&P
provider who is a Linkia provider! Why would one br so foolish as to throw food
scraps to the dragon that has taken up residence in his back yard?
POINT is another issue. POINT was founded about 10 years ago by 5 independent
O&P providers who thought that if they worked together for quality standards
and fair contracting that we would be able to compete with (at the time) the
two large national O&P providers who were intent on buying us out or if not
that, putting us out of business. We grew very rapidly to around 250 ABC
Accredited Facilities in 18 states. We reached the point rapidly that the (unpaid)
board had to decide whether to put further resources into national contracting,
or join forces with another entity. The OPGA/VGM/POINT merger was a natural.
VGM had the resources to do all the needed things POINT envisioned, but could
not afford, such as outcomes studies, national contracting and others. The POINT
Board was voluntary and uncompensated. POINT had become far larger than any
of could manage while still running practices. So, the merger was done. We now
via Van Miller's leadership and VGM's resources the opportunity to compete on
a national level.
Why should you as an insurance administrator wish to contract with
OPGA/POINT? That is an easy one, because you will connect with a network of over 1200
providers (twice as large as Linkia) with ONE CONTRACT! Yep, that is 1/2 the
admin cost! And the quality will likely be higher due to the independant's name
being on the door. Not that quality is something MCOs care about!
I find it interesting that I cannot find any reference to your purported
company (Indepedent Insurance Contracting and Consulting). There is a new web
adage; If Google can't find you, you don't exist!
Who are you and what is your agenda? Orthotics and Prosthetics make up .02%
of the health care dollar, a small ripple in the health care pond! I sincerely
doubt you are who you claim to be. If you would like to discuss these issues ,
You can find me in the ABC Re-gistry, I am sure you have a copy!
Oh, and by the way, you mispelled independent in your company name.
Ron Kidd, CPO, LPO
Columbus, Ohio
Thank you Ms. Smisthson for your interest. We always appreciate the
opportunity to provide insight to our little piece of the health care dollar.
First, let me clarify your statement that Mr. Andreason and I are partners.
This is untrue. I am the managing partner of American Orthopedics, Inc.,
Columbus, Ohio. This is how I make my living, and have done so for more years than I
want to count. It is true that I was one of the five founding members of
POINT Health Centers, and currently serve as a consultant to VGM/POINT. This
requires 4 meetings per year and the reimbursement for my time is far less per hour
than I could make in my practice! I do continue to participate because I
honestly believe that the independent O&P provider will consistently provide
higher quality and more cost efficient care to the physically challenged client,
if given the opportunity. Why do I think this? Because I have competed with,
attended clinics with and cleaned up the messes of large O&P providers for
over 35 years.
How is OPGA different? Well for one, any ABC certified O&P provider can
become an OPGA member. There has never been (and I do not think there will ever be)
limits as to who can be providers based on geography or competition as long
as they meet the minimum criteria. I have yet to hear of an independent O&P
provider who is a Linkia provider! Why would one br so foolish as to throw food
scraps to the dragon that has taken up residence in his back yard?
POINT is another issue. POINT was founded about 10 years ago by 5 independent
O&P providers who thought that if they worked together for quality standards
and fair contracting that we would be able to compete with (at the time) the
two large national O&P providers who were intent on buying us out or if not
that, putting us out of business. We grew very rapidly to around 250 ABC
Accredited Facilities in 18 states. We reached the point rapidly that the (unpaid)
board had to decide whether to put further resources into national contracting,
or join forces with another entity. The OPGA/VGM/POINT merger was a natural.
VGM had the resources to do all the needed things POINT envisioned, but could
not afford, such as outcomes studies, national contracting and others. The POINT
Board was voluntary and uncompensated. POINT had become far larger than any
of could manage while still running practices. So, the merger was done. We now
via Van Miller's leadership and VGM's resources the opportunity to compete on
a national level.
Why should you as an insurance administrator wish to contract with
OPGA/POINT? That is an easy one, because you will connect with a network of over 1200
providers (twice as large as Linkia) with ONE CONTRACT! Yep, that is 1/2 the
admin cost! And the quality will likely be higher due to the independant's name
being on the door. Not that quality is something MCOs care about!
I find it interesting that I cannot find any reference to your purported
company (Indepedent Insurance Contracting and Consulting). There is a new web
adage; If Google can't find you, you don't exist!
Who are you and what is your agenda? Orthotics and Prosthetics make up .02%
of the health care dollar, a small ripple in the health care pond! I sincerely
doubt you are who you claim to be. If you would like to discuss these issues ,
You can find me in the ABC Re-gistry, I am sure you have a copy!
Oh, and by the way, you mispelled independent in your company name.
Ron Kidd, CPO, LPO
Columbus, Ohio
Citation
“Re: National P&O Contracting,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/227287.
