US-POLITICS, SUMMARY, AOPA Membership, Part III

US-POLITICS, SUMMARY, AOPA Membership, Part III

David Hendricks

11/18/2006

David,


To help with your decision, think of what they have done over the past 2 years (not to mention the past 10-15 years). They sent a coalition of powers to represent us in the negotiated rule making committee, which failed miserably. There are several people that you can ask about how the meetings went, which was basically like kids fighting in a sandbox over territories, and a great time for each other to poke and stab each other in public. While they spent their time trashing each other, the meetings went on without their focus and attention.....and we LOST big time in this process.

Look who runs the organization....there are a lot of names that are attached with big companies...the companies that you and I consider our enemies ... (I have here deleted a couple of paragraphs full of names and specifics. The writer's point is that conflicts of interest exist among those who direct AOPA's decisions. David)
 
I can go on and on through many of these AOPA people and point out their personal conflicts and personal interests that do NOT agree with ours out here in the field trying to stay in business and providing services to those that need us.

For all these reasons, I have decided to NOT join AOPA. I do support the Academy, and also am forced to keep on giving wasted money to ABC (and my credentials cost me more than $75 in the first place).

I would really encourage you to look at every board member and check them out, and see what they are interested in personally, who they work for, etc. and then decide on whether you want to pay that amount of money and support them.

I honestly cannot think of any reason for them to be in existence anyway. They are there to support themselves and not represent us, no matter what they might tell you.

Just my opinion, and hopefully shedding some light on the organization. Supporting them does not equate to supporting this industry or profession.

 

Orthotist-Prosthetist (name withheld)

 

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Hey Dave,

As you know, I've worked with AOPA in many ways over the years - as a manufacturers rep, an exhibitor at the National Assembly, secretary of OPTA, writer for the O&P Almanac, speaker at many different AOPA venues and marketing director for a major O&P supplier - and have always found the staff there to be more than helpful in so many different ways. If you utilize the staff at AOPA, you'll get plenty of benefit from them. If you only pay the dues, you may be disappointed.

There are 20 or so, highly trained professionals working there that you can put to work for you. Government regulations, HIPPA, FDA, reimbursement, the coding process - these are all areas which I know nothing about and have used the National Office to help me with. When I was charged with getting and L-Code for the StepLock knee joint, I didn't even know where to start. I called AOPA and was given all the help I needed to gain that new L-Code, and at a time when L-Codes were being stripped of the boards.

The three year freeze on Medicare reimbursement is costing the average patient care facility about $400 a day. I know this may not affect a supplier or manufacturer, directly, but everything that affects your customers affects you. We need AOPA on Capital Hill (no relation to me) now more than ever, fighting to undo this freeze (and for many things now and in the future.

Add to that the discounted rates at the National Assembly - IMHO the most important show of the year - and complimentary copies of the attendee list, the decision gets a whole lot easier.

I think that if you look at it from a standpoint of only making a charitable contribution, you're missing out on the big picture. If you use the National Office, you'll find a lot of benefit. If you don't use them, you'll only get half of your monies worth.

Respectfully,

Steve Hill, CO

 

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David,

 

I believe that it does, especially considering courses that we go to. Also, I can call up and get advise on coding quickly from people who know what they're talking about from the legal perspective, not just what they remember or have heard. May not benefit you for these aspects as much however.

 

(don't sign my name)

 

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Dave


I applaud you on being what used to be termed in the medical field as an ethical supplier. This meant the supplier only sold to practitioners in the field who met a certain standard. This is no longer the norm, and in fact is almost extinct, or at least endangered. You are of course aware that the AOPA' philosophy is to promote bottom line sales, regardless of to whom the items are sold. The major members are those selling direct to hospitals, therapy practices, and doctors with the ominous stock and bill closets. AOPA is also the organization who championed the connection to Sen. Harkin, he was their boy, even as he was screwing the P&O field during the Negotiated Rulemaking and Medicare hearings. I would appreciate seeing what benefit, if any you can find in AOPA membership. Do they even give you a break on the display table for the annual meetings? The last two times they were in Florida they scheduled to compete with the FAOP's meeting and actively tried to gut the state association's primary fund raiser by offering the required mandatory classes for state license.


Best regards,


Morris Gallo, LPO

 

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Thank you, all, who responded.

 

Best Regards,

 

David


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