Re: More VA news
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: More VA news
Date:
6/5/2012
Text:
Regretfully this is sensationalism journalism by people who do not know the facts. They should have taken the time to hear and understand what was being said. They are now writing the news not reporting the news. Having been on both sides of this issue and a prosthetist I think I do understand what is going on.
VA PSAS is being told they must comply with a VA policy that needs to be changed by Congress. PSAS is better equipped with the expertise (Prosthetists/Orthotists) then contracting to deal with O&P matters. O&P Services needs to be separated out of VA Prosthetics. People are confused by the term VA Prosthetics thinking artificial limbs. VA Prosthetics means DMEPOS. Prosthetists and Orthotists are better educated in O&P matters to manage the business of O&P then VA Prosthetic Chiefs and VPRs with no background in O&P.
The OIG report showed human errors on the part of the VA and O&P providers as the reason for the cost overruns. Too often the Purchasing Agents reviewing O&P claims do not understand O&P well enough to review a claim that should be seen by a Prosthetist or Orthotist. I saw a recent claim a Purchasing Agent asked me to review. It was for 1 L-5979 and 1-College Park Tru-Step on one new prosthesis. This is a simple clerical error by the O&P provider’s staff not fraud, and was corrected before it could be reported as a cost overrun. These errors can add up to the millions of dollars of the OIG report. I was asked to review all the L-5999 L-codes submitted in VISN 23 of the VA. All the errors were a misunderstanding of the L-code.
What is needed is more education on both sides better still fix the L-code system to make it more understandable to the layperson as most claim reviewers in the private sector do not have the same level of expertise available to them as the VA. Let the professionals in the VA deal with O&P not contracting. VA Prosthetists and Orthotists working with their partners in the private sector are best equipped to control costs of O&P Service for our veterans to the taxpayer.
VA PSAS leadership after 30 years is now mostly clinical in background, they are well aware of the problems in the VA, and they know O&P. It will take time after 30 years and must be within the law, and new laws may need to be passed. I ask O&P leadership to work with the new leadership of VA PSAS to make happen what is best for our veterans. I ask my colleagues in O&P to work with O&P leadership to communicate and work out difference with the VA and not bash each other in this forum. This does not benefit you or the people you care for.
Respectively submitted.
Al Pike, CP (retired)
www.alpikecp.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Albert J Garney < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: OANDP-L < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Mon, Jun 4, 2012 9:29 pm
Subject: [OANDP-L] More VA news
<URL Redacted>
Albert Garney,CPO
rince William Orthotics & Prosthetics
644 Sudley Rd Suite 305
anassas VA 20110
www.pwop.net
Office. 703-368-7967
ell. 571-247-8641
VA PSAS is being told they must comply with a VA policy that needs to be changed by Congress. PSAS is better equipped with the expertise (Prosthetists/Orthotists) then contracting to deal with O&P matters. O&P Services needs to be separated out of VA Prosthetics. People are confused by the term VA Prosthetics thinking artificial limbs. VA Prosthetics means DMEPOS. Prosthetists and Orthotists are better educated in O&P matters to manage the business of O&P then VA Prosthetic Chiefs and VPRs with no background in O&P.
The OIG report showed human errors on the part of the VA and O&P providers as the reason for the cost overruns. Too often the Purchasing Agents reviewing O&P claims do not understand O&P well enough to review a claim that should be seen by a Prosthetist or Orthotist. I saw a recent claim a Purchasing Agent asked me to review. It was for 1 L-5979 and 1-College Park Tru-Step on one new prosthesis. This is a simple clerical error by the O&P provider’s staff not fraud, and was corrected before it could be reported as a cost overrun. These errors can add up to the millions of dollars of the OIG report. I was asked to review all the L-5999 L-codes submitted in VISN 23 of the VA. All the errors were a misunderstanding of the L-code.
What is needed is more education on both sides better still fix the L-code system to make it more understandable to the layperson as most claim reviewers in the private sector do not have the same level of expertise available to them as the VA. Let the professionals in the VA deal with O&P not contracting. VA Prosthetists and Orthotists working with their partners in the private sector are best equipped to control costs of O&P Service for our veterans to the taxpayer.
VA PSAS leadership after 30 years is now mostly clinical in background, they are well aware of the problems in the VA, and they know O&P. It will take time after 30 years and must be within the law, and new laws may need to be passed. I ask O&P leadership to work with the new leadership of VA PSAS to make happen what is best for our veterans. I ask my colleagues in O&P to work with O&P leadership to communicate and work out difference with the VA and not bash each other in this forum. This does not benefit you or the people you care for.
Respectively submitted.
Al Pike, CP (retired)
www.alpikecp.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Albert J Garney < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: OANDP-L < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Mon, Jun 4, 2012 9:29 pm
Subject: [OANDP-L] More VA news
<URL Redacted>
Albert Garney,CPO
rince William Orthotics & Prosthetics
644 Sudley Rd Suite 305
anassas VA 20110
www.pwop.net
Office. 703-368-7967
ell. 571-247-8641
Citation
“Re: More VA news,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/233744.
