Opinion: The Financial Impact
Lynn Stickel
Description
Collection
Title:
Opinion: The Financial Impact
Creator:
Lynn Stickel
Date:
2/15/2008
Text:
Lynn Stickel < <Email Address Redacted> > wrote: Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:11:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Lynn Stickel < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: The Financial Impact
To: <Email Address Redacted>
As is their practice, the January Almanac listed the new, deleted and changed L codes for O & P from the CMS. At the end of that portion of the article, they have The Financial Impact of Crosswalking with four pages of codes listed. Most informative.
This list includes the number of procedures paid and the top three specialties paid for them in 2005. There are forty two codes listed. Of those codes, fifteen mention certified orthotists and four mention certified prosthetists. Only two of those 42 codes list a certified orthotist in the first position.
Of those codes, twenty nine include medical supply company with 19 being first in the list.
The specialties listed are certified orthotists, certified prosthetists, medical supply companies, medical supply companies with an orthotist (no mention of certification), medical supply companies with a pharmacy, orthopedic surgeons, PTs, OTs, pharmacies, clinics and, last but not least, group practices.
Most of the ABC Certified Orthotists work diligently to provide excellent service for an affordable price all the while trying to make a living. The dues paid to the certifying board keep increasing and the number of continuing ed credits have been increased. Declining reimbursements hit us all. It's tough to stay profitable when the cost of material and supplies keep increasing along with everything else. Add to that the other specialties who provide our service so they can make the extra buck.
Next thing you know someone will go for a knee or hip replacement and there stands that salesman just ready to do the job.
It's too bad the national organizations we all pay our dues to will not diligently go to bat for us. ABC even found a way to increase their revenues by including others with lower levels of training than their own rules for certification. More people, more money. That's what they see.
I wonder just how long the little guy can survive with no support from the organizations we must pay dues to.
Thanks for your ear.
Lynn
---------------------------------
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From: Lynn Stickel < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: The Financial Impact
To: <Email Address Redacted>
As is their practice, the January Almanac listed the new, deleted and changed L codes for O & P from the CMS. At the end of that portion of the article, they have The Financial Impact of Crosswalking with four pages of codes listed. Most informative.
This list includes the number of procedures paid and the top three specialties paid for them in 2005. There are forty two codes listed. Of those codes, fifteen mention certified orthotists and four mention certified prosthetists. Only two of those 42 codes list a certified orthotist in the first position.
Of those codes, twenty nine include medical supply company with 19 being first in the list.
The specialties listed are certified orthotists, certified prosthetists, medical supply companies, medical supply companies with an orthotist (no mention of certification), medical supply companies with a pharmacy, orthopedic surgeons, PTs, OTs, pharmacies, clinics and, last but not least, group practices.
Most of the ABC Certified Orthotists work diligently to provide excellent service for an affordable price all the while trying to make a living. The dues paid to the certifying board keep increasing and the number of continuing ed credits have been increased. Declining reimbursements hit us all. It's tough to stay profitable when the cost of material and supplies keep increasing along with everything else. Add to that the other specialties who provide our service so they can make the extra buck.
Next thing you know someone will go for a knee or hip replacement and there stands that salesman just ready to do the job.
It's too bad the national organizations we all pay our dues to will not diligently go to bat for us. ABC even found a way to increase their revenues by including others with lower levels of training than their own rules for certification. More people, more money. That's what they see.
I wonder just how long the little guy can survive with no support from the organizations we must pay dues to.
Thanks for your ear.
Lynn
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
---------------------------------
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
Citation
Lynn Stickel, “Opinion: The Financial Impact,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/229043.
