A Call to Action: It's time to get involved!

Ever heard the phrase..."If you didn't vote, you can't complain"?

The thought has never been more appropriate. Our personal and professional lives have been inundated by hitherto unknown phrases:"across the isle", "little d, little r" and "executive order". 

But it is more than just words and phrases that are changing our lives.  It's the implementation of an overwhelming tide of rules and regulations desensitizing us to change and creating an almost apathetic attitude toward daily life. 

Recently a senior businesswoman remarked to me over coffee, "its all coming too fast, there is really nothing we can do!"

Over the past 5 years, the post mastectomy profession has had its own personalized introduction to the political two-step, finding that politics and acts of congress control even the minutest details of the provision of breast prostheses and breast care.

So what do we do?

• We get involved!

• We join the daily fight against the insanity. 

• We defend our right to practice our profession.

• We acknowledge that  "we"  means each and every one of us. 

It is always too easy to let someone else: be the first to volunteer,  do the fighting or  pay the bill.  But now its time to step up and be counted as one of the over 7,000 post mastectomy professionals throughout the United States.

Currently and as a result of this apathy or failure to get involved, both breast care professionals and post mastectomy beneficiaries are suffering.  Breast cancer survivor benefits are dwindling and the federal government is finding ways NOT to pay for vital services by drowning the providers of post mastectomy services in a bottomless vat of rules and regulations.

"There is always strength in numbers."  And with a single, focused post mastectomy message we can make a difference. They will listen!

Doctors, Therapists, HME, DME and O & P professionals all have national organizations that are currently fighting the onslaught of negative rules and regulations.

Post Mastectomy has a national organization too.  It is the American Association of Breast Care Professionals.  And the AABCP has been educating and fighting for post mastectomy rights and benefits for eight years.

But now the need for physical and financial support is greater than ever and AABCP is asking for your recognition, your voice and your support.

This is your Call to Action. 


visit http://www.aabcp.org for more information.

Breast Care Organizations really do Help!

So, who and what is AABCP anyway?

National organizations have recently come under public fire and maybe many have deserved the criticism.  However, most national trade organizations provide a necessary and valuable service for their membership.

National or member organizations most often rely on dues from their members or sponsors for sufficient capital to carry out the entity's Mission. As with all business or professional purchases, we ask, what do I get for my money; what is my return on my investment?  With a trade organization, especially one with a advocacy component, it is sometimes hard to quantify a dollar for dollar return.

But all things being equal, there is a return. 

Usually defined in esoteric terms such as "raising a single voice" or "defending against the erosion of rights or benefits", a well run and focused trade association may make the difference between the survival of a profession or allowing state, federal or corporate entities to take unfair advantage of an individual or small business.

We see this last scenario within the healthcare industry, specifically prosthetics (DMEPOS); more specifically post mastectomy services for breast cancer survivors.  Post mastectomy professionals provide a highly specialized services to the over 1.2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.  Yet they are under an overwhelming  regulatory onslaught from numerous Federal agencies and policies.

That's where the AABCP comes in.  Acting as a professional firewall, the American Association of Breast Care Professionals is a member supported organization that advocates for post mastectomy professionals and defends against the erosion of insurance benefits for breast cancer survivors.  Established in 2004, the AABCP has developed a list of "Firsts" on behalf of the post mastectomy profession and the breast prosthetic industry. 

These include the First:

• national post mastectomy organization
• introduction of legislation to defend post mastectomy benefits
• specialty wine designed to fund post mastectomy benefits
• post mastectomy magazine
• post mastectomy PAC  [donations always welcome]

....and much more

For more information about the American Association of Breast Care Professionals please visit:  http://www.aabcp.org.  Joining is simple.  

For non-professionals, please consider supporting the organization through a simple donation at Pink Politico  or the FitMePerfect Foundation.

2013: Roll Tide, Hook em Horns and more

"Auld Lang Syne"  is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to a traditional folk tune.
The title translates into English literally as "old long since". Other translations include: "long, long ago", "days gone by" or for (the sake of) old times". It is traditionally sung at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the start of the New Year but is also sung as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

Bet ya didn't know that!

A more philosophical commentary comes from Brad Pitt's character, John Smith in the motion picture Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), "I guess, at the end, you start thinking about the beginning". 

It is sincerely doubtful that anyone will argue the fact that 2012 has been an overwhelming year. 
Internationally, we have witnessed continuous political upheaval.  Domestically, the United States has ridden an unprecedented and perpetual economic and political rollercoaster that has had a devastating affect on our lives.

So at the end of 2012, most will ask, will 2013 be more of the same; or will the New Year bring a fresh new start?

Personally when thinking about 2012?  I prefer the phrase, GOOD RIDDENCE!!

But...unfortunately....much of the political actions taken in 2012 will have protracted ramifications throughout 2013.  Tax increases, insurance expansions, fee cuts, increased costs, increases in regulatory requirements and an uncertain economy have created a environment of fear and fear can be crippling.

So....

Take a deep breath and take a word of advice from Douglas Adams, a brilliant 20th century author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy..."Don't Panic!"


Where there is change there is opportunity.  Get a map, make a list and put one foot in front of the other...

AABCP will be here to help, advocate and hopefully make it just a little bit easier!

Thank you for your interest and support throughout 2012. 

May 2013 be a new and fresh start for all!

Mayan Predictions with a Medicare Twist

If you believe in such things, December 21, 2012 marks the completion of the Great Mayan Cycle, and the beginning of a New World Age. While most things regarding the Winter Solstice of 2012 are shrouded in doomsday prophecies, the Mayan and African cultures look at the Galactic Alignment as the beginning of a gradual and positive transformation of our human culture.

There is no doubt that reaching 2013, our year of transformation has been painful. In a word, 2012 has been a Smurf!

Throughout 2012 breast cancer survivors have seen a gradual diminishing of post mastectomy benefits.  This proverbial downgrade of services has been accomplished through a cacophony of conflicting regulations, a redefining of "medically necessary" services, increased governmental and corporate oversight and insurance capitation.

But at the root has been a general misunderstanding of the purpose and true need of post mastectomy.

"Post mastectomy" refers to a class of professional services and medical items that are prescribed by a physician as medically necessary due to surgical amputation of one or both breasts due to disease; breast cancer.

Post mastectomy is not:

1. fake boobs
2. Hollywood fashion
3. used to make a women look good in clothes
4. only a temporary fix before breast reconstruction

Honestly, not every women wants or is a candidate for reconstruction.  And believe it or not, the language of many State laws allow insurance companies to circumvent Federal laws requiring post surgical breast reconstruction coverage.


Adding to the chaos of 2012...

As product and compliance costs rise many professionals have begun to close their doors. It's obvious that the post mastectomy profession is squarely facing its own fiscal cliff.  Cuts in Medicare, both immediate and long term threaten to reduce general access to care for breast cancer survivors.  Increasing competition from online providers or national chain stores has also had an adverse affect on independent professional providers.

Truly sounds more like the "doomsday prophecies" than the hope for a better world.

But, if the Mayan's were right, then the negatives of 2012 will turn, with diligent effort, into positives in 2013 and beyond. 

For every door that closes, a window opens and opportunity prevails.




Thanks for Reading!