Knoxville, TN, June 29, 2009 –  The Amputee Coalition would like to thank Otto Bock HealthCare for its generous gift of $15,000 to support our parity efforts for fair and consistent insurance coverage for artificial limbs and custom-made orthotic devices.

“Financial support for our parity efforts helps us move steadily toward the goal of achieving realistic and fair insurance coverage for people living with limb loss,” said Morgan Sheets, ACA’s national advocacy director. “The donation from Otto Bock HealthCare helped us pass six state parity bills and introduce the Federal Prosthetic and Custom Orthotic Parity Act – just in the 2009 legislative session.”

Other parity events that were made possible through generous donations from corporations and individuals in 2009 include the ACA Lobby Day, which brought together nearly 200 amputees and patient advocates from 34 states who advocated for parity by taking time to meet with members of the House and Senate. In addition, the Coalition has developed the “Arms and Legs Are Not a Luxury” Web site in an effort to build more grassroots support for these issues.

“Achieving insurance parity is a top priority for the ACA because of the devastating effect that insurance caps and limitations have on people with limb loss. Insurance companies are unrealistically limiting reimbursement of prosthetic arms and legs or summarily electing not to cover them at all,” said Kendra Calhoun, Amputee Coalition president and CEO. “Mobility is a serious issue for amputees who want to keep their jobs, take care of their families, and live healthy, active lives, and we commend Otto Bock HealthCare in helping us fight for what is fair.”

“At Otto Bock, our vision to keep people mobile and independent is perfectly in synch with parity efforts,” said Brad Ruhl, vice president and general manager for Otto Bock HealthCare North America. “We are passionate about ensuring that the people who use our products have appropriate insurance coverage and are treated with dignity and respect.”

Otto Bock HealthCare is also a Diamond Sponsor of the ACA. For more information about the company, please visit www.ottobockus.com. For more information about the parity campaign, visit www.armsandlegsarenotaluxury.com.

About the Amputee Coalition of America      

The Amputee Coalition, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, with an advocacy staff in Washington, D.C., is a national nonprofit organization that empowers people who have experienced amputation or are born with limb differences through education, support and advocacy. For more information, please visit the Amputee Coalition’s prosthetic parity Web page at www.armsandlegsarenotaluxury.com or call 888/267-5669.          

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