- Several weeks ago, a client in the southwest called me to thank me for our comments about VSP and informed me that his Marchon rep made some negative comments about the services that our firm provides. I’ve never met this rep...but I bet I've made this rep money.
- Just the other day, a client in the northwest called me to inform me that he was told by a “VSP manager” that it was likely another managed care provider was paying us to make disparaging comments about VSP. I’ve never met this VSP manager...or any VSP manager for that matter. Oh…and the client thanked me for saying what was on the minds of many of his colleagues…and asked that I keep it up.
First, let me set the record straight. Neither I nor my firm, Cleinman Performance Partners, have been paid by anyone to say anything negative about anyone. Indeed, that is simply not a service we provide at any price. And this firm is not now engaged by anyone in the managed care segment of the industry and hasn’t been for almost a decade. Yes, about ten years ago I was one of several consultants retained by the firm that is today EyeMed. Our charge was to assist with designing their systems such that they’d be “provider friendly.” I will not accept any blame for reimbursement levels as I had nothing to do with those. What I can certainly lay claim to was helping to ensure that EyeMed had an “open lab” policy. After all, the fact that VSP requires use of their labs for finishing is one of the “chief complaints” of VSP providers.
I always find this corporate version of the kid’s game “telephone” humorous. Here we are a small firm focused on helping our clients succeed, to buy more products and serve more patients. And to be better customers to our industry’s vendors. How is it that we are such a threat to a $3 billion company such that they spread rumors about us? Why doesn't VSP enter into a dialogue directly with me? How sad...or funny.
Perhaps we’ve struck a chord? VSP knows that its systems and methodologies are NOT provider friendly—perhaps it is time they take action. Certainly, if they wish to dialogue about the efficacy of their methodologies, I look forward to their comments on this blog and to an open dialogue with our members. My readers should know that an attempt was made to have such a dialogue, but it was rebuked by VSP/Marchon leadership. This is unfortunate. What are they afraid of? As a rising tide lifts all ships, I believe we are on the same coin in our efforts to bolster the health of private practice optometry...perhaps we're on different sides of the coin...but the same coin nonetheless. Frankly, my mission is to make my clients aware...and to attempt to ensure that the managed care purveyors don't get too greedy with my clients margins...and make procedural changes that will allow improved margins.
Well, as the saying goes, I don’t care what you say about us, just spell our name correctly…
that’s “C-L-E-I-N-M-A-N P-E-R-F-O-R-M-A-N-C-E P-A-R-T-N-E-R-S.” And we’ll keep pounding the managed care drum regardless of the rumor mongering.
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