Physical Therapists Opposed to OrthoNet Business Practices

I oppose the Orthopedic Anthem Blue Cross relationship.

Please note, this is outrageous! It has been known that OrthoNet does not perform real medical review. They engage in arbitrary and capricious review with the intent of DENYING and rationing medically necessary services. There is strong evidence from other states where OrthoNet operates that the above is true and can be provided shortly. Patients deserve access to the medical services we signed up for and are PAYING for! There should be no rush to approve this scheme without full disclosure and presentation of the facts. Patients will be harmed if you do not do your research and delay the approval of this harmful business relationship. Patients deserve the quality of care that we pay for! Sandra Cross

Do the right thing

Please, no more bureaucracy! Keep the middlemen out!

The only reason for Anthem to use OrthoNet is to ration care and avoid paying. This arrangement will hurt patients who already pay excessive premiums for their insurance and providers who have taken cut after cut in reimbursements while insurance profits soar.

Lower reimbursements, higher copay and deductibles are enough to allow consumer choice. We are experts in rehabilitation and along with our patients and their MD's we have to skills and knowledge to determine medical nessecity not some one arbitrary on a cup ice looking a a list and limited reports etc.

For those that wonder what are the oft referenced "increasing cost of health care" mean, this is an example that impacts providers and is one of many reasons why independent (non-hospital) physical therapists and primary care physicians have more and more difficulty making a living and keeping their doors open.

I am so happy to sign this. It is for the patients rights and I can see the direction this is all going. My patients are upstanding citizens who do not abuse the healthcare system. I am offended by the fact that I will have to deal with someone who's job is to simply deny care.

Enough is rnouhj

I understand that you are close to making a decision to approve or deny the anthem OrthoNet relationship. I want to voice my opposition as a member of anthem. OrthoNet will subject patients to delays in getting care and ration care by potentially denying care that the physical therapist and physician recommend. This is not good for patients who need physical therapy. Please oppose this relationship. Thank you!

This is so far from the proposed Direct Access model. More regulation is not the answer. Big Pharma is likely lobbying for this. If it comes down to an MD writing a PT Rx for care (more paperwork) or a prescription med for pain control..........

I do not like the idea that in the name of cost control a third party rather than the doctor, PT facility, and patient, will have the final say on what regimen and number of visits are required.

This process would require our staff to fill out a form with additional medical information and send it to a company that likely doesn’t have the clinical knowledge to make medical decisions. It seems like this is an unnecessary cumbersome process that only adds cost rather than value to the healthcare system. We are concerned that this would also lead to unwarranted denial of service to our patients.

We need to eliminate orthonet from arbitrarily denying services that patients pay for. They are acting like an HMO

I hate that healthcare companies put profits ahead of patient care. Denying coverage seems to be their main goal..

I strongly oppose OrthoNet's takeover. Patient's, small practices and our economy will ultimately suffer. It's basic health care dictatorship.

Orthonet has no positive reason at all other then the greed of insurance companies

I'm against this additional step through who will clog the system, cost more money and take away from the consumer. OrthoNet is unnecessary and costly!!!

This model is a capitalistic failure!

Please let the skilled professional do what's best for our patients and not some middlemen.