Dan Gottry - Blog

Dan Gottry's Blog

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

I Just Have to Laugh ...

I just have to laugh (not because of it being funny or humorous), but because of it being so IRONIC.

I saw this last week and actually was bothered by it. Read just the first part of it:

"You are only too aware that an increasing number of people living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing daunting obstacles from third party payers when trying to obtain the prosthetic care they need to enable them to return to an active, productive lifestyle. This obviously has a devastating emotional and physical impact on both them, and their families"

What does this sound like??? Maybe Linkia/Hanger only having Hanger facilities in the network, making the amputees leave the care of a practitioner or facility that they are very happy with, all over some game of capturing their "market share" and make the share holders happy.

Haven't we all been paying attention to Dan Gottry and his frustration of getting permission to continue his care with his current prosthetist, and seems to be failing at this moment.

This is written by Morgan Sheets, on behalf of the ACA, who is greatly funded by Hanger. There are ads from Hanger in every publication they produce, and Hanger is ironically helping fund this effort for parity legislation in all states.

Wow, talk about a big spin on things.

Just thought I would share this while I was on a kick today.

Jim DeWees, CP

(I know I am not making a lot of friends today, but who needs friends that don't have the same standards anyway....I would rather be hated by the crooks and thieves than friends with them).

[Posted by Jim to OandP List Serve]

----------------------------------
From: Morgan Sheets
Reply-To: Morgan Sheets
To: OANDP-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU
Subject: [OANDP-L] APPLL Update: Prosthetic Coverage
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:55:21 -0400

You are only too aware that an increasing number of people living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing daunting obstacles from third party payers when trying to obtain the prosthetic care they need to enable them to return to an active, productive lifestyle. This obviously has a devastating emotional and physical impact on both them, and their families.

The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is committed to a course of action to correct this injustice and improve access to appropriate prosthetic care for all amputees.

In 2005, we launched our Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL), and started working to introduce legislation at the state level that requires insurance companies to cover prosthetic limbs. In the past nine months, the Amputee Coalition of America has supported prosthetic coverage efforts in eight (8) states. We have worked with and advised an additional nine (9) states in the early stages of a coverage initiative. And with help from the ACA and its members, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and California all passed bills in 2006, making a total of six states with prosthetic parity bills in place.

What's next?

-The PA Health & Human Services Committee is hearing HB 2718, a bill for prosthetic coverage this week.

-The Wisconsin Society of Orthotists Prosthetists and Pedorthists (WSOPP) met last week. The executive council introduced the parity initiative to their membership. We are uncertain if introduction will occur in 07 or 08, but they are moving forward.

-We now have a bill moving in OK. A number of potential sponsors have been identified. We are currently working on bill language.

-Our brand new online Action Center and enhanced organizing toolkit will launch this November.

-We just put out our new outreach brochure.

There are many exciting opportunities just around the corner as we prepare for the 2007 legislative session where 9 states are already poised to introduce legislation

posted by Daniel Gottry at 3:56 AM