BeaverBlade
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How many inserts that you do are covered by insurance (obviously Medicare doesn’t) vs cash pay. solid margins?
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Orthotics Labs
Started by bloxxeeey
Neoprene topcovers last longer than vinyl, I've noticed.
And don't be a 😸 just smile and fedex it back to the lab to be recovered. Mailing out orthotics for refurbishments takes less time than filling out the FMLA forms for the surgery your patient doesn't need because their orthotics were all they needed.
Edit: if your patients' topcovers are wearing out, it's a GOOD sign, it means they like them and they're using them a lot. If you're smart, you use this conversation as an opportunity to issue them a 2nd pair for their dress shoes (graphite shell for guys, cobra shell for ladies/fancy guys). For the refurbishment, consider adding an EVA dancer's pad or whatever to the forefoot extension to offload the area and lengthen the lifespan of your device. SOOOO much easier than revising a surgery.
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I would still say to Rx out 95% of orthotics (DM shoes/insoles also... 100% are Rx out). That is what I do, and I'm doing fine.
As said years ago, the orthotics are just a customer service headahce... adjustments, cover peeling off, didn't help, too stiff, all that. You do need a lab for the re-covering and to make some insoles here and there (just do the easy ones for people with PF or metatarsalgia and little/no arthrosis), but I avoid it as much as I can... just sell prefabs and then Rx it out to local store (Hanger, etc) for the cavus or peds or deformities as those stores/labe can do better and can handle the mods and tweaks many will need/want. You will see how many people STILL complain about their soff rheumatoid insoles or flat foot orthotics or whatever even when the DME store makes them. It's wild (but you can just send them back for adjustments).
The DM shoes + insoles can be good if you are fairly busy and have an office with enough storage space (those will have returns/exchanges too), but it's only a matter of time until you get an audit on Medicare DME (shoes or other stuff).
...basically, until about 1970, podiatrists weren't getting surg training. Even then, very few did. So, in essence, until ~2005ish, most of us just did RFC and injections and were orthotic salesmen. These days, with so many services, you can do injects, wound, care, XRs, u/s, DME boots braces, OTC stuff, surgery, RFC, and E&Ms for everything... orthotics are just not a necessary service to do in the office anymore. Jmo.
It's a personal call in PP to even have a Medicare DME license or not (I choose not to as well-insured area, small sq footage office). It opens up some revenue streams to have the license (shoes or custom braces for MCR pts), but it also opens you up to audits and it has its own costs in terms of time+money+hassle for the license and paperwork to get/maintain it. You also have deal with the physical storage. I do fine without it.
As said years ago, the orthotics are just a customer service headahce... adjustments, cover peeling off, didn't help, too stiff, all that. You do need a lab for the re-covering and to make some insoles here and there (just do the easy ones for people with PF or metatarsalgia and little/no arthrosis), but I avoid it as much as I can... just sell prefabs and then Rx it out to local store (Hanger, etc) for the cavus or peds or deformities as those stores/labe can do better and can handle the mods and tweaks many will need/want. You will see how many people STILL complain about their soff rheumatoid insoles or flat foot orthotics or whatever even when the DME store makes them. It's wild (but you can just send them back for adjustments).
The DM shoes + insoles can be good if you are fairly busy and have an office with enough storage space (those will have returns/exchanges too), but it's only a matter of time until you get an audit on Medicare DME (shoes or other stuff).
...basically, until about 1970, podiatrists weren't getting surg training. Even then, very few did. So, in essence, until ~2005ish, most of us just did RFC and injections and were orthotic salesmen. These days, with so many services, you can do injects, wound, care, XRs, u/s, DME boots braces, OTC stuff, surgery, RFC, and E&Ms for everything... orthotics are just not a necessary service to do in the office anymore. Jmo.
It's a personal call in PP to even have a Medicare DME license or not (I choose not to as well-insured area, small sq footage office). It opens up some revenue streams to have the license (shoes or custom braces for MCR pts), but it also opens you up to audits and it has its own costs in terms of time+money+hassle for the license and paperwork to get/maintain it. You also have deal with the physical storage. I do fine without it.
