I’d like to comment, as an orthotist at heart, on the perspective offered by Mahesh Mansukhani in the May edition of the Edge.
Manufacturers and central fabricators billing payers for custom orthoses with Lcodes at deeply discounted rates is not right. These orthoses are most often provided via PTs and medical assistants in physician offices who are essentially functioning as sales reps. Office visit/clinical time charges are then added, as they are also “providers”. What an abuse. This model has been a disaster for the most needy patients among us requiring truly custom orthotic care and the orthotists who try to serve them.
Our “leadership” entities failed to protect these patients and now prosthetic patients are vulnerable. Payers and regulators do support this orthotics model being applied to prosthetics. Prescribers and patients do not.
Doug
Douglas Van Atta, CPO
O & P Options, LLC
10547 Montgomery Road
Suite # 600
Montgomery, Ohio 45242
(513) 791-7767 fax: (513) 791-7765
