Chair Gutiérrez asks Laura about provider network participation
Gutiérrez asks Laura if provider opinions on joining networks might change. Laura says continued engagement and transparency will help, but some providers will always want to remain independent.
You raised a really good point about...
The providers who just maybe have a bad taste in their mouth regarding on-time payments and flexibility.
Based on what you heard today from the admin, where do you think providers, do you think that based on the commitment to on-time payments,
And, you know, a kind of ongoing conversation around wage.
Where do you think some of these providers will land in the next cycle?
Where do you think, do you think their opinion will change about wanting to be a part of a network?
Or do they want to remain independent and, you know, kind of figure out the best way to be included in this program?
Thank you for the question.
I think that, especially in this year with our new administration, Emmy, and I'm sure now that DC Phillips is here, there will continue to be a lot of community engagement.
And so there's been a lot of efforts to
attend educator meetings in the evenings, on the weekends.
I've seen them speaking at any and all events.
And so I do think that if that can continue and if additional information can be shared transparently and in a timely manner, I think that will help.
I do think there are
will continue to be some educators who will say, this is my business, I started this from the ground up, and I fear that I will lose control of my business or some sort of my agency if I participate with a network.
And so I think there will always be educators who are not open to that possibility, but I do think that many have appreciated
the engagement so far and I think there is still tremendous ability to continue the conversation in the dialogue.
Yeah, thank you.