Orthotics and your practice 10% of the population will experience planter fasciitis or heel pain in their lifetime. OTC orthotics is a must for these patients to put in their shoes on their first visit. Custom orthotics will be the long term cure for patients who suffer from planter fasciitis or heel pain. Globally orthotics is a 4 billion dollar industry and is expected to grow to over 6 billion dollars by 2030.

In our recent survey only 77% of DPM's dispense OTC orthotics and 89% dispense custom orthotics. Most DPM's surveyed dispense 1-10 pairs of either device a month in their practice. Only 19% of DPM's use their web site to market orthotics while over 61% depend on word of mouth to market their orthotics.

Orthotics represent one of the highest margin items in your practice whether OTC or custom. The higher the margin the higher the profit your practice makes. Some examples of margins: Walmart average margin is 33% on anything sold in their stores, retail shoes has an average margin of 45%, a scoop of ice cream you buy in your local ice cream shop has a margin of 40%. In comparison. custom orthotics at $100 cost and a $400 fee represents a 75% margin. A pair of OTC orthotics at $12 cost and a $45 fee represent s a 73% margin. We will not discuss margins on surgical procedures you perform in your local hospitals!! Hopefully you understand that orthotics can be very profitable for your practice and at the same time help your patients who are in constant pain from their planter fasciitis.

That being said one of the companies that we work with Podiatry Content Connection is hosting a webinar on Orthotics with Louis Decaro DPM for your practice and how to market them on Monday Night at 8 PM Eastern. Below is the information and link to the webinar. We hope you can join in Monday Night.

Dear patients,

As you may know by now, the Coronavirus disease, otherwise known as COVID-19, has become a rapidly evolving concern for people across this country and abroad.

We want to assure you that our practice is taking precautionary measures to help maintain the safety and cleanliness of our office. To best help prevent the spread of this disease, we urge you to please contact our office prior to any appointments if you believe you are exhibiting symptoms.

Common symptoms of this virus may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This precautionary step is especially important for elderly, diabetic, and pediatric patients, as they seem to be more susceptible to the disease.

Additionally, we advise that you regularly wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home if you believe you’re getting ill, covering your coughs and sneezes, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces may also help in the prevention of the Coronavirus.

Our practice is dedicated to providing a safe, and healthy space for our patients, which is why we must all work together as we learn more about this disease. Please feel free to contact our office, and we wish you well.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Sincerely,
The Podiatric Partners of Texas team

Summary: Final Rule Implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the Final Rule implementing the prohibition of discrimination under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. The Final Rule, Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities, will help to advance equity and reduce health disparities by protecting some of the populations that have been most vulnerable to discrimination in the health care context. The final rule explains consumers’ rights under the law and provides covered entities important guidance about their obligations.

Section 1557 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and activities.

Section 1557 builds on long-standing and familiar Federal civil rights laws: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (Age Act). Most notably, Section 1557 is the first Federal civil rights law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all health programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.

Section 1557 has been in effect since enactment of the ACA in 2010 and the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has been enforcing the provision since it was enacted.

Coverage of the Rule

The rule covers:

− Any health program or activity, any part of which receives funding from HHS (such as hospitals that accept Medicare or doctors who accept Medicaid);

− Any health program that HHS itself administers;

− Health Insurance Marketplaces and issuers that participate in those Marketplaces.

Attention: If you speak any of the listed below languages – language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you.

Please call:   State Health Insurance Assistance Program Language Line 800-792-8820