Senate Bill 280 (S.280) was heard by the Senate Health and Welfare committee on February 14th.  It looks like the bill will pass out of committee this week.  After that, it will head to the Senate floor.  We need your help to keep the bill moving!

TAKE ACTION!  We need you to make just a few phone calls and/or send a few e-mails!  That’s it!  Call and/or e-mail the senators from your area today.   Contact information and sample messages are included below.   Please, help us pass this important legislation!

· Click here to find the senators from your area. 

Sample Phone Message: I am calling to urge Senator ____ to support Senate Bill 280, a bill to protect coverage for prosthetic care. This is an important piece of legislation for amputees in Vermont.  Please, vote in favor of Senate Bill 280.

SAMPLE LETTER/E-mail

Dear Senator ____,

Without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living with the loss or absence of a limb face discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care. That is why Senator Racine and Senator Lyons are working to advance Senate Bill 280, a bill protecting access to prostheses.

Obviously, the biggest concern anybody has about passing a new mandate is cost. People fear that big jumps in the cost of insurance will reduce access to health care. None of us want to see health insurance costs pushed beyond the reach of the average consumer. Policy reports have been done in Massachusetts, California, Colorado, New Jersey and Virginia. They have found that providing prosthetics is low cost to individual consumers. Furthermore, it also saves money in the public and private sector.

A Department of Health Care Policy & Financing report found that the maximum increase in premiums for prosthetic provision would be about 12 cents per month. That’s less than $1.50 per year. That’s not going to push anyone off the insurance rolls or put anyone out of business. It will, however, get people the care they need to get back to work and live independent, productive lives.

Many hard-working people Vermont are prevented from living full lives because they cannot get the care they need. I urge you to support this important bill when it comes up for a vote in the Senate.

Sincerely,

Name, Address, Phone

Help us continue to fight for parity in Vermont! Click here to find out how to support this critical legislation.  For more information, contact us at state@amputee-coalition.org or 202/742-1885.  You can learn more about the Vermont campaign by clicking here. 

The ACA would like to thank Eileen Casey for all her hard work to help make this bill happen.