Maryland
ACA Advocacy Staff
Monday, July 20, 2009
Breaking News: Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) is hosting a town hall meeting about healthcare reform on Monday, July 20th at 7pm at Prince George's Community College in Largo, MD. Join us to push to meet the needs of amputees!
WHAT: Senator Cardin to hold Health Care Town Hall meeting
WHEN: Monday, July 20 at 7 pm.
WHERE: Prince George's Community College
Largo Student Center, 2nd Floor Community Room
301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774
RSVP to Carleton Atkinson at 301-860-0414 or via e-mail at carleton_atkinson@cardin.senate.gov
Background: Governor O'Malley signed the prostheic parity act on May 7, 2009 making Maryland the 15th state to enact prosthetic parity. Senate Bill 341 was passed out of the Senate by a vote of 41 to 2 on March 20, 2009 and House Bill 579 was passed by the House by a vote of 125-10 on March 25, 2009!
We would like to especially thank Albertha Jackson-Smith and Lorenzo Smith, Charles Dankmeyer, Terrence Sheehan, Suzanne Merrell, Andrew Lourake, Nelson Lanthrop, and Dorsey Vengrouskie for their hard work and dedication in getting this important legislation passed for amputees throughout Maryland.
Senate Bill 341 was introduced by Senator Catherine Pugh and assigned to the Senate Finance Committee. It has 14 co-sponsors including Senators Astle, Della, Exum, Gladden, Glassman, Harrington, Jones, Kelley, Klausmeier, Lenett, Madaleno, McFadden, Raskin, and Rosapepe. House Bill 579 was also introduced and has 23 co-sponsors including Delegates Mizeur, Aumann, Barkley, Benson, Cane, Carr, Costa, Feldman, Frick, Guzzone, Hecht, Hubbard, Krysiak, Lafferty, Manno, McHale, Montgomery, Ramirez, Reznik, Robinson, Schuler, Tarrant, and Taylor.
In 2008, a legislative luncheon was held at the Calvert House on February 20, 2008. It was covered by the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. Click here to see the media coverage.
After the hearing in 2008, the bills were withdrawn while a cost study is being conducted. This was standard protocol. With the study now completed and favorable to the legislation, we're confident that with your help the legislation will pass this year!
Please email us at state@amputee-coalition.org or call us at 202/742-1885 if you'd like to get involved.
 Activists and ACA staff prepare for hearings on Wednesday, February 13th.
Other Advocacy Issues: While parity is a big priority for the ACA’s advocacy team, we have recently been involved in a number of issues advocating on behalf of people with limb loss and limb difference. Is there a bill or issue in your state that we need to know about? Contact us at state@amputee-coalition.org.
The ACA is also working hard to pass federal parity legislation in order to extend protections for health plans regulated by Congress (about half of all policies). Get informed by visiting our federal parity page.
Help keep up the fight for parity and protect the health and rights of amputees throughout the country! Whether you can give $5, $50 or $500 we need your financial support!! Write a check to the “Amputee Coalition of America” and send it to: ACA, 300 East Hill Ave, Suite 205, Knoxville, TN, 37915 or make a donation online on our secure marketplace at: www.amputee-coalition.org/advocacy/donation.
Lorenzo Smith and his mom, Albertha Jackson-Smith with the lead House sponsor, Delegate Heather Mizeur.
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