Dan Gottry - Blog

Dan Gottry's Blog

Thursday, November 02, 2006

A Provider's Comments on Linkia's Double Standard

The following was received from a provider:

First I would like to commend you for the work and input you have and are doing regarding the Linkia / Hanger situation.

I work for a very small Independent with 2 locations. One in xxxxxx, xx and I am in a small rural town 120 miles away.

We approached Linkia at the beginning of this whole process and never heard a reply. At the second approach we were told being that Hanger has several locations in [the city] we could not be in network with Linkia and also the location for which I am at would most likely not be in network either. The 2 closest Hanger facilities to my location are 75 miles away.

Now, I would like to hit on a subject that struck me a couple days ago that is completely being over looked at the present time, I believe.

THERE ARE DOUBLE STANDARDS GOING ON !!

According to the rules of Linkia, you have to have ABC Accreditation for Network Participation.(exact words)

Not all Hanger offices are ABC Accredited!! The 2 closest Hanger offices to me are not ABC Accedited. One of these Hanger locations, in Paducah Ky. have (3)full time ABC Certified practitioners. Not sure why they are not yet accredited. The other Hanger location in [city] has (NO) full time Certified practitioner. They can not be accredited with no ABC Certified practitioner.

So how is it that Linkia's rule of participation is not being enforced???

How is that Linkia contracts with Cignia with rules and regulations that are to be gone by but yet are not being followed??

Does Cignia know that Linkia is not up holding their own rule especially when it is Hanger offices??

It seems to me that any Hanger office that is not ABC Accredited when seeing or that has seen a Cignia patient thru Linkia would be in violation of Linkia's rule and Cignia should not be liable to pay the claim.

Oh well, guess another situation Hanger will get away with!!

By the way , even if we were able to participate with Linkia , we would not!! Not at the low reimbursement that is contracted! (35% below medicare) Right!! We also are no longer going to be using SPS as a supplier, I am switching to Cascade Orthopedic Supply.

Again Thank You for your support for the Independent!

Sent by an independent provider

posted by Daniel Gottry at 3:59 PM