Contacts:	Morgan Sheets
	Amputee Coalition of America
	(202) 302-4373 or (202) 742-1880
	Jay Scher
	Sims & Associates, Inc.
	(212) 725-3838 or (917) 940-7876

Washington, DC, June 11, 2008--Amputees from around the country, along with their families, friends and supporters, will be in Washington, DC, today to participate in the first Lobby Day in support of the Federal Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008, which would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for prosthetic care as they do for all essential medical care.

The Lobby Day is being organized by the Amputee Coalition of America, the leading national, non-profit, amputee consumer educational organization that empowers people who have experienced amputation, or are born with limb differences, through education, support and advocacy.

“Members of Congress are increasingly aware the extent to which health insurers deny many amputees access to artificial limbs that they need to lead active and independent lives,” said Paddy Rossbach, CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America.

She explained that many health insurance companies cap prosthetic care benefits too low for the average person to obtain a prosthesis, and they often impose lifetime caps or eliminate coverage completely.

"The federal prosthetic parity bill will also ensure that the tragedy of children living with the absence of limbs is not compounded by inadequate insurance benefits forcing them to spend the rest of their childhood in wheelchairs when help is readily available," she said.

Amputees in Washington today, will meet with their House and Senate members between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm seeking their support of the bill, HR 5615, which has had bipartisan support from its introduction.

The bill was authored by Representative Rob Andrews (D-NJ 1st CD) and it provides insurance parity under employer-paid and group health insurance coverage for prosthetic devices and components. Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL 21st CD), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL 25th CD), George Miller (D-CA 7th CD) and Todd Platts (R-PA 19th CD), are original co-sponsors.