Sight for Students? Yeah right...

**Johns** · 03-26-2007, 06:02 PM

By now you've probably all heard that effective July 1, you will only be allowed to use Altair frames for the Sight For Students program.

I stopped in to the Altair booth while in VE, and the rep was all excited.
"It won't cost you a thing!" she said, "In fact, it should be a wash, as far as the frame goes..." She went on to explain that the program was set up to be a charity for poor children, so they really don't expect the practioners would think they'd make a lot of money on it anyway.

I told her that if she wanted to give out glasses to "poor" children, she should open an optical in my neighborhood, and use HER opticians to administer it. As for me, I'm opting out. I won't deal with an agency that makes me carry their junk.

**Audiyoda** · 03-26-2007, 06:58 PM

I can't get those knuckheads at Altair to stop calling me - my doc agreed to look at some frames of theirs last year - I told them I needed some mens frames to fill my boards so they sent me Tommy Bahama - what crap. None of our patients even took a first look at them, much less a second look.

So I sent them back - my 'rep' was just astonished they didn't move but wanted to know what he could send me to replace them - told him they've been replaced with product that is moving, and moving quite well. A week or so later - more Altair frames showed up - 3 dozen to be exact (I had sent back 2 dozen). I called my 'rep' and asked him if they were a gift to compensate me for the time in having to unbox, inventory, display, rebox and ship the previous junk. He didn't like that - I told him I don't like receiving unsolicited product so he better be prepared to show me where I or my doctor signed on the dotted line to authorize Altair in sending these. He told me flat out that if I think they are a 'gift' then he'll simply bill me for them at the cost will be deducted from our VSP reimbursement. ???? So...I called VSP - it seems there is nothing to stop Altair from pulling that crap. If you are a VSP member doctor Altair does not need authorization to send you product - it's in your agreement (to do business with VSP and their representatives). You read that right...Altair can - at their whim - send you product based on your affiliation with VSP. Needless to say - I send the crap back and told UPS to bill the receiver as unrequested goods. They haven't sent anything since, but my 'rep' keeps calling me almost weekly.

But this really is astonishing - VSP was started by Optometrists but look at what it's become. It's become a living death for any member doctor. Member doctors live on those huge number of patients VSP can generate - but payment is at least 20% below your U&C fees if not closer to 35% (in our case). And now they pull this load of beans? Sorry - if I were an Optom there is no way I would sign up to be a VSP provider.

**allanon** · 03-26-2007, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Audiyoda

Sorry - if I were an Optom there is no way I would sign up to be a VSP provider.

You think VSP's bad? Hah! Try Davis or VBA. That bad waitress tonight should feel lucky I opted to give her my penny.

-B

**Audiyoda** · 03-27-2007, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by allanon

You think VSP's bad? Hah! Try Davis or VBA. That bad waitress tonight should feel lucky I opted to give her my penny.

-B

Davis, Spectera, EyeMed...No way I'd provide for any of them. Very few plans actually pay providers a fair amount. And what's worse, is they rape their subscribers as well - pay $10/pay period ($260/yr) for a benefit that gets them the basics. Something I would retail for around half their benefit. They'd be better off paying into a flex plan and using that.

**cathy** · 03-27-2007, 08:31 AM

We take Spectera, Firstcare, and Medicaid. You don't even know shoddy frames until you deal with Medicaid frames. In Texas we get 14.45 for frames and 18.70 for cr sv lens and 25.50 for ft 28. That is the max we can bill for glasses for an adult. Kids with 1stcare get a little more but the nightmare filing claims and filling out paperwork means a lot longer time spent with each patient. While every patient deserves our attention to their eye care needs, the majority of our time is spent complying with government regulations and filling out no less than 5 pieces of paperwork. Hppa, fraud prevention forms and eligibility of benefit forms not to mention our regular paperwork that goes with each patient. A regular patient gets 1 form filled out, it becomes their file and works as a lab order too. Our independant Dr's of optometry next door take very little if any insurances. Spectera is eating our lunch on frames as we advertise a free 1 year frame warranty. Sometimes we have to mark the frame down so much we lose money if we repace it 1 time not to mention the unlimited usage plan we have for our warranty. I'm glad I just work there and I don't have to deal with the nightmare it must create for our people who watch our bottom line.

**allanon** · 03-27-2007, 09:59 PM

Medicaid in Virginia is a tad different. They get an allowance... I get to decide the frame. Their reimbursement for services is higher than any local medical plan.

**glassynotassy** · 03-31-2007, 01:46 AM

Insurance companies do not decide what employees pay for their benefits or what level of benefits a group will have. The employer decides. My husband and I both work for companies that provide free medical, dental and vision coverage.
I think that as insurance companies continue to compete with one another to gain market share and feed their supply chains the number of private pay patients will continue to dwindle. Also, retail chains are more likely to see the private pay patients than those of you in private practice. Long story short, it is probably best to support managed care companies that are not in bed with retailers; companies that are directing patients to your office and not the big box down the street.
(Very greasy tactics on the part of your Altair rep. Love how you handled him!)