US-POLITICS, SUMMARY, AOPA Membership, Part I

US-POLITICS, SUMMARY, AOPA Membership, Part I

David Hendricks

11/18/2006

Dear Fellow O&P Colleagues:

 

QUESTION

 

Dear O&P Colleagues:

I am deciding whether my company, HOPE Orthopedic, should join as a supplier member of AOPA. This cost is several thousand dollars each year. Part of the benefit is that we would be supporting our industry, which is good, but shouldn't we, the member company, also benefit?

The decision-line I have decided to draw is at 50%. If I can determine that an AOPA membership is worth half it's cost to our company, then it's a go. I don't mind contributing to the good of our field, but I think such a membership should accrue to the members benefit as well as to the organization's benefit. I've decided half and half is a fair deal.

Which brings me to my question, which is directed to - and only to - employees of AOPA members (whether supplier or patient care facility). If you divide your company's annual AOPA membership fee by two, do you think your company directly benefits by the amount of that quotient each year?

I will post a summary of responses, so please let me know if I should include your name in that summary. (If you feel you don't want AOPA officials to see your candid response, even without your name, let me know that too, and I will honor that by not including your posting in the summary.)

Thank you, in advance, for your responses.

David

BTW: Please don't rant and rave that I should support my association, no matter what. This is a business decision. I'm already allowing 50% as pure donation. Besides, my company is one of the few O&P suppliers left who honor our profession by refusing to sell outside of it. We say no almost every week to someone who wants to buy direct. Each time we do it costs us sales - which amounts to lost profit - which is a donation in itself. So I ask that you restrain yourself from patriotic outbursts and stick to the specific question, if you would be so kind. Thank you again.

 

SUMMARY

 

I received a few strong opinions, both pro and con, as well as comments from some fence straddlers. I did not receive any ranting and raving. Thank you!

 

Those in favor of AOPA membership argue that it supports O&P, and that you get value for your money in reduced rates at shows and free but valuable advice on O&P business matters. Those opposed argue that AOPA, as a lobbying body, is ineffective (or worse), and that membership is therefore a rip-off. Those on the fence are inclined toward the latter, yet feel that they may be letting down their industry by not supporting AOPA.

 

In posting the responses, I have edited content that might divulge the identity of those asking me to conceal it, I have omitted all references to specific businesses and names (except the names of posters who chose to reveal themselves), and I have done some small copy editing for clarity and brevity, but in the main, I pass on these posts as I received them.

 

RESPONSES

 

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Hey David


We here at ***** pulled our membership from AOPA because it did not represent us as well as it should have for the amount of the membership fee. Please keep my name out of this as I have a habit of pissing the organizations off and then the higher ups don't buy from us.


Take care,
O&P manufacturer president (name withheld)

 

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Dear Mr. Hendricks,

 

Let me preface this response by saying that I too re-evaluate the cost of membership in AOPA and other organizations annually as renewal fees come due. As owner of a small P&O patient care facility it is important that I evaluate each expenditure to see if it contributes to the profitability of my business. Sometimes this is a very difficult undertaking as it is hard to relate the benefits of an organization to the direct impact in dollars and cents. With that said, let me tell you what I do know...

 

I know that my membership in AOPA keeps my business on the forefront in the battle for reimbursement. The up-to-date advice, education, and tools provided to me as a member allow me to stay on top of reimbursement issues keeping my cash flow relatively healthy. My office manager annually attends the coding and billing seminars put on by AOPA, and always returns with valuable information which directly contributes to a healthy bottom line especially in accounts receivable.

 

I personally attend the AOPA National Assembly annually and find the information gathered there helps me to maintain a competitive edge in my practice. Most of this information comes from relating with suppliers like you in the exhibit hall and learning about new products. This, along with the many informative lectures, provides me with valuable tangible benefits.

 

Please note that I also pay particular attention to which suppliers are in fact AOPA members. I agree, support, and applaud your commitment to providing your products only to businesses and qualified practitioners within our industry. It is with companies such as yours which I prefer to do my business. The only way I can be relatively certain that a supplier shares my philosophy and is invested in supporting my practice, is if they are also aligned with AOPA and similar organizations.

 

In summary, I find that it is particularly difficult to place a dollar and cents benefit to membership in an organization, but rather it is by the intangible aspects that the greatest benefit to my practice is derived.

 

Joel J. Kempfer CP FAAOP



(continued in part II)



David Hendricks, CPO, FAAOP
<Email Address Redacted>
HOPE Orthopedic
6439 Milner Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32809
ph: 800-613-8852
fax: 888-440-1217
ph: 407-850-0411
fax: 407-851-8922