Beneficial ? To the patient or to the independent provider?
Not unless you consider fewer choices of providers for patients as
beneficial?
This is why I am uncomfortable with the current ACA solely driven parity
effort with Hanger, particularly in unregulated states.This puts
Hanger/Linkia in a position to negotiate exclusive O&P contracts with third
party payers doing business in Florida and 8 other parity targeted
states,even if parity legislation passes or doesn’t.
In these parity efforts, Hanger will be in direct contact with insurer’s
lobbyists.
Better and more affordable O&P benefits for beneficiaries from qualified
providers is the goal however; providing exclusive contracts to one provider
is not acceptable to me since it limits choices of providers.
Oh well, if it was easy everyone would be doing it …and apparently they
are with or without a license or credentials:)
On another subject but just as bizarre,isn’t this a great country we live
in where if you break the law by being here illegally for 5 years you maybe
rewarded with a automatic citizenship ?
How can anyone live life so seriously?
Have a great weekend everyone .
Tony
—–Original Message—–
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Dino M. Scanio
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [OANDP-L] Linkia
To the O&P world,
>
Hopefully we are keeping our eyes and ears open to what is occurring in the
insurance industry regarding the Hanger owned Linkia company. Is it
beneficial to O&P as a whole??
If the mission of this company is to provide top quality O&P care to
patients nationwide, I would assume that one of the 600 Hanger offices will
be chosen before any other private O&P Provider.
Inclusion or Exclusion?? If I was a private business owner, I would be
extremely concerned about this issue.
On the Linkia web page, under FAQ, the question was asked “I am an O&P
clinician. How can I join the Linkia provider network?” The answer given
was “At present, Linkia has a network in place serving its existing
business. As we add regional and national contracts with healthcare
companies, we will have need for additional O&P network providers. Please
check back to the website periodically to learn of new network participation
opportunities.”
The hidden message in this answer is…as a clinician, you will be checking
back forever and more than likely you will never be given the opportunity to
get a piece of the pie.
I will agree that this concept of Linkia will solve a lot of problems on
behalf of the patient. But it will also create big problems for independent
O&P providers.
www.linkia.com
Dino M. Scanio, C.O., L.O.
