Dr. Angela | Regenerative Injection Therapies | Prolotherapy & Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections
  • home
    • Dr. Angela bio
    • mission statement
    • media page
    • conditions treated
  • Injections
    • Physician Training
    • other injection therapies >
      • trigger point injections
      • therapeutic scar injections
  • Learn From Me
  • when & where
  • new patient
    • insurance
  • blog
  • articles
  • testimonials

Breaking news: Naturopathic Doctors in Oregon need your help!

2/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Did you know that in Oregon, Naturopathic Doctors are paid less than MDs, DOs, even Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants - for every single office visit?

And I'm not talking 2% or 5% less. I'm talking 30-60% less.

That doesn't seem right, does it?

Yet insurance companies are allowed to pay us less, just because they can.

The Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians is trying to correct this injustice with  a Pay Parity bill, House Bill 2673.

Our first attempt at passing a Pay Parity bill was in 2019. It was unsuccessful, largely due to blockades and intentional faulty messaging provided by the insurance companies. We have come up with (what we hope are) effective tools to address this.

A lot has changed since 2019, I don't need to tell you that.

But what I can tell you is that as a profession in this state, the economic impact of unfair insurance coverage was not fair and not great in 2019. In 2021 it is truly devastating.

If we do not act, there will be widespread negative repercussions in Oregon for anyone who is an ND or would like to see an ND. Perhaps permanently.

The OANP needs to demonstrate we're not alone. That others care about this issue.

Here's a short list of who should care:

  • NDs who bill insurance (for the obvious reason that we can continue to serve our patients if we are reimbursed at equal rates)
 
  • NDs who do not bill insurance or live outside of Oregon (because establishing this precedent will have positive repercussions far beyond the boundaries of this state)
 
  • People who see NDs and use their insurance (for the obvious reason that we can continue to stay in network with your plans; I have already had to drop several as I was "volunteering" to see my patients due to abysmal reimbursement rates)
 
  • People who see NDs and don't use insurance (because again, setting this precedent will expand our profession in this state because with equitable funding we will be able to further clinical reach, residencies for new and upcoming doctors, and more)
 
  • People who are in other healthcare professions (because you will be able to coordinate care with providers who take your patients' insurance plan; we are being forced to leave insurance company contracts in droves currently)
 
  • People who haven't even ever heard of an ND (well, Hi, nice to meet you. If you would at any point in the future like to see a Naturopathic Doctor and have any hope of insurance coverage, I invite you to get on board, NOW!)


So, what can I do?


I'm so glad you asked.

I invite you to use this very simple letter template, edit and write in it what you wish (even 1 or 2 sentences is wonderful), and email it to legislative@oanp.org.

They will be collecting up all the letters and using these to show that we have public support for our bill. Though these will all be collected up together, if you do not know your senator and state representative, you can find out who they are here>>>

We do have far-reaching support for our bill. It is supported across the aisle, and also across the healthcare fields. We just need to show the evidence.


Letter template:

 
I have attached word document templates below. You can send in a word document, or even just copy and paste your message into an email and send to legislative@oanp.org:

Deadline: please send it in this week! Things are moving fast, and we need to show our support now!


Subject: Re: HB2673, Support Fair Pay for Naturopathic Doctors (NDs)
 
Dear House and Senate Health Care Committees, Oregon Legislature,

My name is (Insert Your Name) and I am a patient of a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and your constituent. I would like to share my experience working with an ND as a medical provider and ask you to please support HB2673.

(Insert your experience here. Use the following as a prompt)
I have worked with many types of medical providers, and none have taken the time and shown the care in my health and welfare like my Naturopathic Physician. The level of education, support and competent care that I have received has not only helped me move forward with my health conditions, but has renewed my faith in the healthcare system.

Unfortunately, right now in Oregon NDs are not being fairly compensated for their valuable contributions to healthcare in this great state. This makes it more difficult for people like me to access this unique and essential level of care. It also limits my choices when it comes to healthcare.

My ND manages the majority of my healthcare needs whether it be my annual physical, lab orders, health screenings or prescription(s). They also refer me to other competent providers and specialists when appropriate. In addition, they teach me about diet and nutrition, how to stay active, manage stress, improve my sleep and become more proactive in my own healthcare. All of these things come together to create a more complete treatment plan for my health and I have never felt better.

I am asking you to vote yes on HB2673 and support fair pay for Naturopathic Doctors.
 
Sincerely,
(Insert Your Name)

Will this actually make a difference???


Yes, yes it will. I have sat in on numerous senate and house healthcare committee hearings and can tell you from experience that our organization saying, "please bring our bill to a vote, we have 1,500 letters of support" will make a much bigger impact than, "please bring our bill to a vote, we have 5 letters of support."

Politicians are much more likely to act, even whether to call a vote or not, if they know that there is a ton of support behind the bill.

Every letter of support counts.
Now the question is, can I count on you???

I hope so, and truly appreciate your support.
Dr. Angela

Patient letter template:

patient_pay_parity_support_.docx
File Size: 20 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Letter template for my fellow NDs:

nd_pay_parity_support_lette.docx
File Size: 20 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Letter template for my allied healthcare professionals:

ap_pay_parity_support_lette.docx
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    I'm Dr. Angela, and I want to help you and your joints feel their very best.
    Get on my email list!

    Archives

    August 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Acute
    Advertising
    Allergies
    Alternative
    Alzheimer's
    Anti Inflammatory
    Anti-inflammatory
    Antipyretic
    Anxiety
    Appreciation
    Asprin
    Attention
    Autism
    Babies
    Birth Defects
    Bitters
    Blood Sugar
    Body
    Bone Density
    Bone Fractures
    Calcium
    Cam
    Cancer
    Carcinogen
    Cell Phone
    Chemicals
    Children
    Chronic
    Chronic Disease
    Cortisol
    Crops
    Day
    Daylight
    Dementia
    Depression
    Diabetes
    Diet
    Digestion
    Disease
    Dry Cleaning
    Eating
    Energy
    Environmental Exposure
    Epilepsy
    Exercise
    Exposure
    Fever
    Food
    Foster United
    Fruit
    Functional
    Genetics
    Global Health
    Glycemic Index
    Glycemic Load
    Grocery
    Health
    Healthcare
    Healthcare Reform
    Healthcare Workers
    Healthy
    Heart Disease
    Heart Failure
    Heartmath
    Herbicide
    High Blood Pressure
    Hippocrates
    Hospital
    Hypertension
    Illness
    Immune Function
    Immune Response
    Infants
    Inflammation
    Insurance
    Intention
    Iq
    Iron
    Legislation
    Lifestyle
    Lunch
    Marketing
    Meals
    Medicine
    Meditation
    Melatonin
    Metabolism
    Natural
    Naturopath
    Naturopathy
    Neighborhood
    Night
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Oregon
    Organic
    Pain Management
    Paleolithic
    Pesticide
    Pesticides
    Portland
    Pregnancy
    Primary Care
    Produce
    Publicity
    Quality
    Quiz
    Radiation
    Research
    Rhythms
    Rose City Health Clinic
    Roundup
    Seizure
    Sleep
    Stress
    Sugar
    Supplements
    Sweets
    Tai Chi
    Time Management
    Vegan
    Vegetables
    Vitamin D
    Vitamins
    Weight Loss
    Well Being
    Well-being

about the doc

Dr. Angela's bio
Regenerative Injections Therapies (Prolotherapy & PRP)
Other Injection Therapy Services

patient info

new patient page
insurance/payment

contact

when & where

verified by healthprofs.com
Privacy Policy
© Copyright 2011-2022, Dr. Angela Cortal ND LLC

website content is for educational purposes only and is no substitute for medical advice
(see the Terms of Use Agreement for this site),

you must establish a doctor-patient relationship to receive that!

Photos used under Creative Commons from star5112, Infrogmation, ripkas, conbon33, deansouglass, noricum, Mr. T in DC, gandhiji40, Gane, everyone's idle, Ed Yourdon, racheocity, Vivian Chen [陳培雯], William Brawley, taylor dahlin, RenaudPhoto, toddwickersty, Nick J Webb, Casey David, myfuture.com, apparena, aithom2, Don Fulano, AASU Armstrong University Archives, jakebwotha, Scootie, gnuckx, jemsweb, Avia Venefica, Dylan and Cindi Luder, EvelynGiggles, puliarf, Kevin Krejci, christyscherrer, Itinerant Tightwad, weegeebored, Micah Sittig, L_K_M, biofriendly, kirinqueen, jsmjr, Peaches&Cream, kcxd, Tambako the Jaguar, a.drian, quinn.anya, Fancy Mandi, Melissa Gray, avlxyz, a_whisper_of_unremitting_demand, linademartinez, Helga Weber, Kevin N. Murphy, Mikamatto, Vivian Chen [陳培雯], See-ming Lee 李思明 SML, Wonderlane, Images_of_Money, CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture, kirinqueen, Daquella manera, norwichnuts, jetsandzeppelins, Pink Sherbet Photography, Pip R. Lagenta, philwirks, BaileyRaeWeaver, heydrienne, nandadevieast, melloveschallah, cogdogblog, skampy, vintagedept, freeparking, mafe, John McNab, PhylB, FlexxyB, Pop!Tech, La Citta Vita, jimmiehomeschoolmom, A_of_DooM, Christofer Andersson, Rex Roof, mislav-m, Pixel Addict, chaysbc, colindunn, miss_yasmina, skedonk
  • home
    • Dr. Angela bio
    • mission statement
    • media page
    • conditions treated
  • Injections
    • Physician Training
    • other injection therapies >
      • trigger point injections
      • therapeutic scar injections
  • Learn From Me
  • when & where
  • new patient
    • insurance
  • blog
  • articles
  • testimonials