To the O&P world,
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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.
