Mailing List Part I

Mailing List Part I

Elizabeth Park

The responses will be in multiple emails because they are too long!
 
   
Well -Here they are. At the end is a response from Hanger. We did call him
and he did give a response which I will not post here. I would encourage all
of you to do just what he asks - call him and find out for yourself. Then tell
him exactly what you think of this questionable practice. All I can say is,
money talks -- and where does that leave the rest of us?
 
Thanks - You are a great bunch!
 
Roger Park C.O.
 
In a message dated 10/25/2007 2:09:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
<Email Address Redacted> writes:
Can anyone tell me how certain O & P companies get the names of patients
to
invite them to their facility for an assessment of their current orthotic
or prosthetic device (provided by another practice?) Isn't this clearly a
HIPPA violation? What about our Code of Ethics? I figured it was from the
ACA,
but we have a patient who received an unsolicited letter from this
publicly-held company and he is not a member of ACA.

Thanks!

Roger Park, CO

· Roger
I would be interested to know your responses to this question! About a
year or so ago, I went head to head with one of the big mucky mucks from this
publicly-held companies for posing the same question.........you wouldn't
have believed his response..................
Keep me posted!
· · Support groups are often a source

· Perhaps a more local support group? Or the physical therapist?

· Wow! I would also like to hear the answer to this one!
·· Did he ever visit them for previous care or a second opinion??


·· I am not sure how they get mailing lists but it is a very slippery
slope
when you invite a patient for a free assessment. This can be construed as
soliciting business and if it is Medicare, this is clearly a no-no.
· Please post responses. Thanks in advance.
· · Hello Roger:
Interesting question. Please post responses as I am sure that there are
many of us very curious about this practice.

· Hi there -
We've had this happen before with our clients - Our clients are usually
laughing as they hand them to us - Nothing like needing to put on a good dog 'n
pony show to promote their company! We think it's helpful to know what
they're doing because it aids us to plan our marketing strategy by making sure we
do the exact opposite - Remember what they say: Keep your friends close and
your enemies closer. Encourage your clients to bring this info in so you can
stay in the often-amusing loop that is Hanger-land...
As many of our clients are ex-Hanger, this is usually why they're on the
mailing list. As I'm sure you know, Hanger (or us!) can send information to any
 client we've seen in the past, even if they don't come to us anymore.
However, if your client was never seen at a Hanger facility and is a Medicare
subscriber, Hanger could be in hot water. No soliciting of Medicare members
allowed, unless we've seen them before...
Hope this helps –
· I am assuming that the public company you are referring to in your
e-mail question below is Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics.
If you are, please contact me by phone and I will be happy to share with you
where Hanger obtains the names for all mailings.
Dale Berry, CP, FAAOP
VP Clinical Operations
Hanger Orthopedic Group
820 North Lilac Drive, Suite 110
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Phone 763-521-4126
Fax 763-521-4134
Mobile 612-810-1100