To counter today’s skyrocketing costs of healthcare, insurance companies are pressured to pursue policies that ease their bottom line. Negative results from this pursuit can lead to slashed reimbursement rates and substandard care. However, many insurance companies understand that high quality care can lead to lower long term costs and a healthier, more productive patient.
For patients requiring orthotic and prosthetic care, a high quality treatment plan can return a patient to work sooner and allow for proper exercise and mobility. In the case of diabetic patient care management, proper orthotic care can reduce the likelihood of future amputations.
For these reasons, certain insurance companies are beginning to see increased value in raising their standards for providers of O&P care.
One way to raise these standards is to require all providers to be ABC accredited facilities.
ABC Accreditation
Within our profession, the high standards of ABC accreditation are well known. Now, through new Medicare regulations and state licensure acts, the rest of the healthcare community is beginning to understand the value of O&P standards of care.
To further this understanding, ABC is working to inform insurance companies about the inherent value in requiring accreditation for all O&P providers.
To accomplish this goal, the ABC Board of Directors has instructed the ABC public relations and facility accreditation departments to communicate with the largest national insurance companies. Through a series of conference calls and other forms of communications, ABC is building a bond with the decision makers at various nationwide insurance companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna.Why this is Important
Insurance companies and healthcare professionals know that meeting accreditation standards ensures continuity in the delivery of healthcare services. We believe that O&P accreditation ensures better organizational structure and a safe, modern facility.
Ultimately, this is to the benefit of the patients.
Outside organizations agree. The Amputee Coalition of America, the nation’s foremost patient advocacy group, values and supports all standards of O&P patient care. In 2004, the ACA expressed these sentiments, stating “ABC facility accreditation improves the quality and safety of care delivered in prosthetic care organizations by setting high orthotic and prosthetic standards, including leadership, patient’s rights and performance improvements.”
We certainly agree.
Armed with the belief that ABC Accreditation creates a safer, quality-assurance based environment for O&P patient care, outreach to insurance companies will continue indefinitely. Through our continued efforts, ABC accreditation will become a standard for O&P care.
For more information on ABC accreditation, please visit the Facility Accreditation section of the ABC website or contact Tammi Richards at (703) 836-7114, ext. 230. To discuss ways in which ABC can communicate with the insurance companies in your area, contact Tom Derrick at (703) 836-7114, ext. 224 or tderrick@abcop.org.