Oregon Orthotic and Prosthetic Association

Oregon Orthotic and Prosthetic Association

Forest R Sexton CPO

Paul please add this post to the list serve
 
   
We are at the end of the third year of the reemergence of OOPA (Oregon
Orthotic and Prosthetic Association). Thankfully we did not have a busy year
for the organization. All potential legislative concerns were tabled early in
the session so that Salem could focus their attention on broader health
care reform issues as well as trying to balance the budget. OOPA has had an
uneventful year and fallen into a slumber.
 
Unfortunately our issues as an industry in the state of Oregon can not be
ignored. Ignorance is not bliss and complacency almost severely altered our
ability to earn a living in Oregon.
 
For those people close to issues of the last 3 years we know this to be
true. For those of you yet to take an active role let me explain. If OOPA had
not reformed 3 years ago the O&P landscape in Oregon would be dramatically
different than it is now. We would not have a law in Oregon requiring all
insurances pay for orthotic and prosthetic devises. The insurance companies
would have been a good deal stronger in their ability to enforce exclusive
provider agreements. We most likely would have a licensure law that
requires legitimate O&P providers jump through rigorous hoops to practice our
trade while allowing uneducated non-certified providers to practice without
regulation. Last, we would definitely have seen a law that imposed the most
rigorous warranty requirements in the nation. Keep in mind that these
issues will resurface two years from now.
 
 
I understand that it often takes a crisis for many of us get together and
work towards a common end. I am taking your time right now to try and
impress on everybody that this moment in time finds us in just such a crises.
The next year or two will define our industry for the remainder of most of
our careers.
 

These are extraordinary times. We are facing huge budget cuts across the
nation. Every state including Oregon is looking for places to cut spending,
and I guarantee that health care is a primary area for these cuts. Our
country and state are in the process of redefining how heath care will be
provided for the next 50 years. As an industry in the state of Oregon it is
imperative that we have a seat at the table when these issues are decided. I
have already been contacted by our national office for assistance at the
federal level.
 
 
As an organization we are not in a good place to defend ourselves. We
currently have no members since membership dues are past due. Only 9 people paid
 last year. Our leadership has grown complacent over the last year with
nothing to focus on. Our organizational needs are funded entirely by four
companies who may or may not wish to continue doing so. Lastly, our lobbyist
will end his current contract next month effectively silencing our voice in
Salem.
 
 Let this be a call to action. I would appreciate everybody who gets this
e-mail to respond to me. Please indicate if you would be willing to take a
leadership role in our organization, and when you would like to see the next
 OOPA meeting. The next OOPA meeting should be within the next two months.
 
At our next meeting there will be a vote for new officers. Everybody will
need to get their annual dues paid. To do this contact Natalia Hanavan. I
will hopefully get out an invoice to everybody soon.
 
Finally, I am certain that this e-mail list is very out of date. Please
forward this e-mail to anybody you know in the industry.
 
Forest R Sexton CPO, <Email Address Redacted>
(mailto:<Email Address Redacted>) or <Email Address Redacted> (mailto:<Email Address Redacted>) or 541-734-2435
 
 
President, Oregon Orthotic and Prosthetic Association.



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