What is the right thing to do?

[AlPikeCP at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/28/2001 12:54:08 AM Central Daylight Time, 
shooter1 at mediaone.net writes:



> Are you implying we wait 90 days after delivery before billing?  



Hi Morris,

Absolutely not, what I am saying is that the amputee has 90 days before it is 
final. After 90 days there is no refund in full or in part, and any 
adjustments and, etc., are now billed and due. They 90 days also does not 
apply to any anatomical changes weight gain, weight loss, medical changes, 
and, etc. that the prosthetist cannot control. Some clients have also been 
know to over use a new socket before their residual limbs acclimate to the 
new environment, one reason I like long term test sockets.

>>>>>What would be ideal is a system of draws like the building trades.  You 
receive payments throughout the fitting process with a 10% holdback at 
delivery for the "punch list" of final adjustments.>>>>

At one time we had a similar system in prosthetics. A 50% down payment was 
made when the cast was taken and the balance was paid before delivery of the 
prosthesis. The amputee submitted the claim to Medicare or their insurance 
carrier and received the funds directly to pay the prosthetist. Then the 
amputee started spending these funds on something else before the prosthesis 
was finished. We as prosthetists then noticed a guy in OKC getting a lot of 
press coverage over his idea of fitting an AK socket and getting paid a lot 
more then us for his prostheses. We wanted some of that action and up went 
the price of a prosthesis. In Minnesota a new idea came forth called Managed 
Care and then history repeated itself back to the times after the Civil War.
 
>>>>The majority of the fraud I have seen is just that, fraud.  People who 
take payment and never deliver a product or service, or who bill for 
components and services never delivered, or knowingly providing products to 
persons not able to use them.>>>>

Or sell them a Mercedes when a Chrysler is all they need. However, most 
prostheses are below the $25,000 threshold for legal action.

Al Pike, CP






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