Last Friday, April 19th was a study in contrasts. I got home on Wednesday after AOPA’s policy forum and learned that a childhood friend’s father had just passed away. His funeral was scheduled for Friday, April 19, the same day my mother-in-law wanted to treat us to dinner for my birthday. It was cloudy and unusually cold that day. They say our neighborhood was a bit of a bubble, there were 7 of us, all the same age and our parents all looked out for us. I learned at the funeral of a poem he wrote that guided his life and the advice he gave.

This week Paul and I had the privilege of participating in AOPA’s Policy Forum on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. I think it’s important to know that advocacy isn’t just for DC. It crucial that the groundswell comes from each local community. You and only you, can start that movement in your hometown. In spite of the fact that Congress is as dysfunctional as ever, we have the best shot ever at getting the Medicare O&P Patient-Centered Care Act passed! This bill will restrict the mail-order drop ship of customized O and P and helps you with Same and Similar rejections. Read on!

There are many leadership articles about the importance of empathy, and I want to come right out at the beginning and state that I am not advocating for the elimination of empathy in the workplace. I believe empathy is a crucial component of effective leadership and essential for successful relationships. Further, I think we have a hard time understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy and therefore feel conflicted as managers trying to manage in an increasingly emotional culture.

What if the key to unlocking success wasn't a new marketing strategy, but a new way to think about how you connect with people? Can you imagine a situation where payers don’t discount off Medicare for you? Where referrals give you what you need without hassle? It’s not some utopian dream.

This week I help you catch up on the hottest trends in O&P straight from the AAOP 2024 show floor! Discover how to:

• Turn everyday assessments into data-driven stories!

• Embrace new tech that accelerates wound healing!

• Master PROMIS and crush payer justification! (It's already in your OPIE!)

Don't miss out - these insights could transform your practice! If you are still in Chicago, Visit our booth (1025) and read on!

Do you want to get paid appropriately for your work? If you know me, you know that I strongly believe in the power of appropriate O&P intervention. It's incredibly rewarding to see how that care can empower individuals to regain mobility, independence, and a sense of normalcy in their lives. At the same time, it is crucial to educate the rest of the health care community about the fact that the value you bring extends far beyond the immediate improvements observed in your patients. Your meticulous documentation plays a critical role in communicating this value to that broader audience.

Unlock the Secrets of Practice Success: discover the power of written policies and procedures! From compliance mastery to staff empowerment, learn how to transform your practice. Don't miss out on the key to operational excellence!

Last week I wrote about the problems we are having as a profession in getting paid for the professional services rendered in caring for persons in need of O&P care. That blog generated a lot of interest, I got phone calls, emails and comments posted online. Thank You! It is awesome to get feedback and obviously a lot of people are feeling the same frustration. Most of the questions were asking what we can do.

On February 2, 2024, HCSC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, announced its intention to complete its acquisition of Cigna’s Medicare businesses for $3.3 billion. Let that sink in. How many of you are fighting for increased reimbursements? How many of you are accepting contracts from private payers at rates BELOW Medicare?

Are you concerned about cash flow and frustrated by stingy payers & skyrocketing costs? What if I told you there’s a pile of cash you are probably leaving on the table? Read on to unlock financial freedom and practice peace.

Have you ever felt the raw power of waves crashing against the shore? Each wave, unique in size and force, dances to its rhythm. But there's an analogy here. Your team: where each person, with different roles and expertise, can be a formidable force. Adaptability, like waves adjusting to the shore, is crucial. Synergy, as Stephen Covey notes, isn't compromise; it's finding that third option where the sum is greater than the parts. Dive into the ocean of synergy – is your team riding the wave of common purpose?

Are you constantly running on empty? Or at least constantly running? In this blog, I discuss the importance of recharging and taking time for yourself as a leader. I share my experience of taking a break and enjoying a sunset in the Caribbean, and I encourage you to find your own "Caribbean sunrise" - a moment of serenity that will help you recharge and be a better leader.

In a world obsessed with glitter and gold, true leadership wears an invisible crown: character. Forget flashy resumes, integrity is the secret sauce that turns followers into fanatics. Ready to ditch the charade and lead with substance? Let's dive into the heart of real leadership, where character reigns supreme.

Happy New Year! Have you heard of “the Goldilocks Principle?” How’s your porridge? I ran across an article that reminded me of this principle and made me think about how it can apply to O&P. See what Goldilocks has to say about running a practice!

The December Crunch is on. Patent deductibles are met, and the year-end procrastination is coming due, This is it! So in the hustle and bustle, are you ready for 2024? I encourage you to take some time to think about that before it is 2024. And before that, take a hard look at 2023. This week’s focus is on getting ready for tomorrow while we are dealing with today.

What do you think of when you read that word, Execution? Since this is generally a Business blog, I certainly hope your mind went straight to the meaning of getting things done. But the interesting thing is the flipside…what happens if we don’t get things done?

Are you interested in taking your practice to the next level? Do you want to turn your end-of-year reflections into tangible improvements? In this, my latest blog, I offer a guide to enhancing your practice's value, streamlining processes, and boosting patient care, all while keeping your team engaged and adaptable. Start your journey to operational excellence today. Remember that OPIE is committed to your success.

A year ago, what did you envision for your practice in 2023? What did you see when you conducted your environmental scan a year ago and set your business goals to capitalize on that? If you conducted a scan, were you right? What do you envision for your practice in 2024?