I first heard of licensure in KY and read a copy of the proposed legislation, in Dec 2006. Initially it seemed all inclusive, yet the more I digested the language of the bill and compared it to standards set forth by the federal government I began to see serious problems not just for practitioners but mostly for patients. My first reaction was to dig into other states and see what had happened and what was being proposed. The details of all of these bills initially seemed similar and most people would look over them and say okay they are a lot alike, but their eyes would begin to glaze over when you started to get into the details of the fine print and the legal ramifications.
One of the problems is that people in our profession are mostly craftspeople, not lawyers. And it’s been my experience that most of them are for some type of legislation that protects the patient and elevates the profession. But we must not be like the pioneers who were so thirsty they were willing to drink poison water.
There is a very real danger to the pedorthic profession, and this assertion that “oh you’ll be grand fathered in and your individual practice or business is safe”, is no reason to turn a blind eye and let the profession dry up or be shoved under the bus.
Anyone who has been around long enough knows that historically the scope of practice is developed first by practice surveys (role delineation surveys).
What practitioners are actually doing in their place of business. This information sets the scope and is used to develop the educational requirements to support the profession to patients and to the people who pay us.
BCP did these surveys every five years and it is my understanding that when everything was surrendered to ABC these were part of the package.
However just like the vote count they are never to be seen again. If everything is in the pedorthic best interest and is open and honest lets see them and discuss what is wrong, lets do another one, or anything besides just write up what ABC THINKS it should be. It took more than 100 years to wipe out most of the guilds of the 18th century, but it is clear that at least one has survived. With closed executive meetings, a self appointed board and everything hidden behind confidentiality agreements you can see why I am at least skeptical about ABC’s intentions.
One need only to go to the Ohio OP&P website http://opp.ohio.gov/new.stm
And read the letter from their chairman of the board to ABC’s executive director and you will see a scary scenario playing itself out in Ohio.
Now if all you want to do is dispense diabetic shoes, then you and the pedorthic representation to ABC are on the same page and you should be okay. But if you are a pedorthist that embraces your full scope of practice as defined by BOC, which is developed by traditional standards and is transparent for all to see, then you had better step up to the plate and make yourself known in the state where you live to legislators before something happens like is happening in KY. Mostly because the one thing ABC has more of than pedorthists is money. And when it comes to a state general assembly, lobbyists are very successful at misinforming legislators and it can take a lot of time to undo misinformation. Especially when they use mutilated vets, and disabled children to make their case.
Now ABC claims to have no “position” in any state practice act, however with one of it’s board of directors spear heading the state licensure movement in KY there is at least reasonable doubt to suspect otherwise.
If you see horse manure in the road, you know there has to be a horse up there somewhere.
I think the case needs to be made that all of the OP&P community is better served by BOC, especially pedorthists. They have the exact same credentials as ABC, but all of their actions are transparent. They have a democratically elected board, their facility accreditation is cheaper, and their leadership and staff are working diligently to give practitioners (customers) what they pay for. Their founder Dr Don Fedder has taken a beating for more than 30 years defending qualified practitioners right to practice and serve a growing population of mobility challenged people. Their current president Greg Safko is just as honorable and is working very hard to protect the professions and to represent us to CMS, as well as to federal and state legislators. And without his help BOC practitioners, especially pedorthists would already be eating grass. BOC sent Dr Fedder to testify, as well Rick Sevier, pedorthic educator at OSU and BOC board member came of his own accord because this bill disturbed him about the future of pedorthics in KY, and the danger of setting a precedent for other states to follow.
As well the PFA has really stepped up to shed light on the facts surrounding the profession that have been misrepresented to legislators. Brian Lagana, PFA’s executive director, has personally made two trips to KY to lend a hand forming the Kentucky Pedorthic Footwear Association, and to testify to the Senate licensing and occupation committee. Randy Stevens PFA president has taken late night phone calls, early morning phone calls and has answered every email promptly to help develop a strategy to protect our interests here. Mike Veder who is also on PFA’s board has made numerous trips to the state capital as well as meeting with the bill’s sponsor at his home to try and dispel some of the half truths and lies supported by the people who wrote the bill. He is a far better diplomat than I. And I appreciate his patience with me.
The bottom line is that CMS (who writes the rules for payment) recognizes BOC and ABC equally and I can only hope that practitioners, not just pedorthists refuse to continue to support (send money) to ABC.
Dennis Hagan BOC pedorthist / cped
Family Shoe
Bardstown KY
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