White Paper sponsored by VGM

White Paper sponsored by VGM

Wil

2/6/2013

Dear Colleagues and Guests,

I am posting a document this morning that should make your blood boil.
Go to OP-Repository.org, then Documents, then CMS, then White Paper. You
will find out more about the background of this document when you get
there. You will also find one of the most truthful and significant
documents ever posted to the website regarding our plight with Medicare
and Medicaid. I only wish we had done something similar early on. I
highly recommend that you print it out for reading and I also recommend
that you send a copy by certified mail to each and every legislator you
can find at the county, state, and federal levels. I would also send
copies to your state insurance regulatory body. At a minimum, by reading
this document, you will get a glance of things to come from CMS
regarding O&P. If this is sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, then the legislators cannot deny receiving it in their
offices. One of the common answers from these folks is that they were
not aware of the extent of the problem because they have very few
complaints. Let's take that answer out of the picture quickly.

You may ask why I included county, state, and other officials. It is
because the ripple effect will eventually involve those in state and
local governments and we need to make them aware of what is going on as
well. Here is an example. We were recently denied a private insurance
claim because Anthem could not obtain information regarding the claim
from another provider. We knew nothing about their attempt to get
additional information. Additionally, the EOMB from Anthem states that
we are not permitted to balance bill the patient and that this claim is
purely provider responsible. When private insurance companies start
these kind of tactics, you had better believe this involves local and
state government, along with the regulatory bodies that are involved.
You can be sure that we will continue to file formal written complaints
with our state insurance regulators each and every time something like
this occurs. This also makes it very important that we get ERISA
regulations in line with local and state regulations. This is one major
loophole for large corporations via the self-insurance process that
virtually defeats parity legislation.

As a final thought, I would suggest that you post copies of this white
paper in your offices so that clients and family members can read the
document. If they want a copy to take home, by all means give it to
them. The more people are exposed to what is happening in health care,
the more likely it is that positive change will occur. Put a copy on
your website so people can see what is holding up their services.

VGM, OPGA's parent company has prepared this document and I am amazed at
the quality and truthfulness of the content.

If our O&P associations are on top of this important issue, I don't see
why they would not distribute this information to each and every member
of their O&P associations, so that even more copies of this important
document could be distributed. After all, isn't that what they exist for?

This document was prepared in behalf of DME and O&P was mentioned in
passing. Regardless, I believe this document spells out the issues that
we are now facing as clearly as it could be done.

Do yourself a big favor and get on-board with this project. What do you
have to lose?

Thanks.

Wil Haines, CPO
MaxCare Bionics
Avon, IN 46123