Rhode Island Passes Prosthetic Coverage Into Law

On July 7, Rhode Island joined Colorado, Maine and New Hampshire in ensuring that people with limb loss get the care they need to lead productive, independent lives. Rhode Island became the fourth state to pass a bill to ensure that private health insurance plans provide medical coverage for orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) devices that equal benefits provided under Medicare.

In the late 1970s, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the first prosthetic licensure law in the United States. Nearly 20 years later, William R. Teoli, CP and Representative Joanne M. Giannini began working together with patients, legislators, healthcare providers and amputee support groups to raise awareness for prosthetic parity legislation.

Now, after a decade of lobbying, dozens of committee hearings and countless hours of work, this goal has been realized. Through the supportive efforts of the Rhode Island Society of Orthotists and Prosthetists, Representative Giannini, many patient advocates and several prominent Rhode Island legislators, a trio of laws has passed unanimously through the General Assembly, which will ensure that O&P users in Rhode Island will be afforded the care, coverage and patient rights that they deserve.

The ACA worked hard to support Rhode Island’s efforts to pass prosthetic coverage into law. Our members wrote letters and made phone calls before key votes. And ACA staff worked to directly lobby key members of several committees and the governor’s office.

We are confident that other states will see this victory as a call to action in our national campaign for prosthetic coverage.

In This Issue

Rhode Island Passes Prosthetic Coverage Into Law

ACA Expands Policy Staff

Parity Fundraiser Held in NY

ACA Featured in Article on Grassroots Activism

Bills Continue to Move Forward in 2006

ACA Working to Improve Access to Assistive Devices

A Call to Action

ACA’s Conference Praised in Newsweek

ACA Hosts Opening Party& Campaign Briefing in D.C.

ACA’s D.C. staff: Jeremiah Perez, Morgan Sheets and Fred deGregorio

The ACA is excited to announce the hiring of Jeremiah Perez as advocacy specialist for the Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL). Perez holds a BFA in Merchandising from the Academy of Art University. He comes to the ACA with a background in marketing, writing, and business administration. Perez has held various leadership positions with community-based organizations, with experience in fundraising, outreach, and building coalitions.

“Jeremiah not only brings experience and skills to our national campaign, but a personal commitment to the issues,” said Morgan Sheets, advocacy director.

Perez’s responsibilities for the new position include supporting all facets of APPLL: administration, fundraising, communications and organizing.

“As a below-knee amputee,” says Perez, “I’ve spent the last 10 years fighting my way around insurance issues. I am passionate about assisting in the day-to-day efforts to make prosthetic parity a reality.”

“We have seen some great progress over the past few months,” added Paddy Rossbach, ACA’s CEO and President. “Building our advocacy staff will help us create an even stronger and farther-reaching parity campaign.”

Morgan Sheets, ACA’s advocacy director and Erik Tompkins, CPO

Janie Tice-Shepard and John Vacca, Region A representative

The artists of LIVINGSKIN ® recently wrapped up The Garden Show , their second fundraising event of the year, at their manufacturing site and art gallery in Newburgh, New York.

Each year, LIVINGSKIN invites its artists to display their work in the art gallery in their downtown storefront. A portion of the proceeds benefits an organization chosen by the company and the artists. ACA’s APPLL initiative for prosthetic parity was the beneficiary for the 2006 show. receiving approximately $2000.

A reception was held on May 27 to kick off the exhibit. The artists, clinicians and staff from LIVINGSKIN and its parent company,

Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates International, Inc., attended the opening, joined by various supporters of the local arts and disabled community and APPLL’s advocacy director, Morgan Sheets.

Joann Hargabus, one of the directors of Action Toward Independence (ATI), a local disability support organization, was also at the show. ATI was the beneficiary of the first annual art show.

“This fundraising event fit perfectly into our mission,” said Tom Passero, CP. “When we expanded into our current manufacturing location, we wanted to demonstrate our commitment to our employees, to the local community, and to the patients we serve throughout the Hudson Valley and the U.S. Raising funds for ACA’s parity program was a perfect match. Of the many important issues facing amputees right now, the ACA has identified prosthetic parity as critical. I encourage our entire profession to donate and raise funds in their communities to support the ACA’s efforts to push for prosthetic coverage.”

“ Individuals can make a significant impact — even with relatively limited time and resources. ”

That’s the central message of an article in the August 2006 edition of The Academy Today , published by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, in partnership with The O&P Edge .

Entitled “Grassroots Activism Delivers Results”, the article focuses on the vital role of individuals getting involved in the process of influencing policy affecting orthotic and prosthetic care, with advice and commentary from several leading practitioners and consultants.

The ACA could not agree more. Whether it is the recent victory in Rhode Island or the new campaign committees that are being created all over the country, it’s grassroots activism that is really fueling the fight for prosthetic coverage.

To read the article: www.oandp.org/AcademyTODAY

The passage of the Rhode Island bill is very exciting. We are continuing to organize strategy meetings to build and strengthen campaign committees to launch new bills in the 2007 legislative session. And bills are moving forward in several states: California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania .

In May, California’s parity bill, Assembly Bill 2012, unanimously passed the Assembly Health Committee, the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, and the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The New Jersey Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee recommended A1011 for passage on June 12. The next step is a floor vote, which is likely to occur after the summer recess.

Pennsylvania ’s bill is also on the move. It didn’t receive a hearing before the legislators went into summer recess, but we’re continuing to coordinate with members and activists to ensure that HB 2718 is given a public hearing before the 2006 session adjourns.

Activists in Pennsylvania are currently working to raise awareness about this important initiative through a statewide letter to the editor and petition drive. Letters are being submitted to newspapers throughout the state. The completed petitions will be distributed to members of the Health & Human Services Committee when they return from the summer recess.

We are excited to continue to advance bills in states all over the country!

We are still making progress in three states:

• California
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania

ACA Working to Improve Access to Assistive Devices

The Amputee Coalition of America is proud to be part of the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid ( ITEM) Coalition. The mission of the ITEM Coalition is to raise awareness and build support for policies that will improve access to assistive devices, technologies and services for people of all ages with disabilities and chronic conditions.

Right now, the ITEM Coalition is working to support the “Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006” (S. 3677), a bill to be introduced by senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Rick Santorum (R-PA). This legislation would modify Medicare’s restriction on “in the home” mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters.

Currently, the language regarding mobility devices restricts coverage to only mobility devices that are used in the patient’s home. This has a very negative impact on people who may be able to get around in their own home without a wheelchair or scooter but require an assistive device if they want to leave their home.

The “Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006” will allow people to have access to the devices they need to go to work or school, to get to a doctor’s appointment or just live a more independent life.

The Amputee Coalition of America is excited to celebrate the recent victory in Rhode Island. We’re working hard to advance legislation in states all over the country.

We have hired additional staff and opened an advocacy office in Washington, D.C., in order to really ramp up our efforts to support prosthetic coverage. But we still have a lot of work ahead!

Here are a few simple things you can do to help push for prosthetic coverage!

Join the ACA's e-mail action network. This is a great way to stay up-to-date. We’ll also let you know about actions you can take throughout the year. Just send us an e-mail to let us know you’d like to join our action network.

Volunteer on the state parity campaign. Whether you can give 1 hour or 1 day a month, it helps! Contact the APPLL team to find out the status of the efforts in your state.

Write a letter to your state representatives, urging them to support prosthetic coverage. Contact ACA’s policy office; we’ll send you a sample letter and help you find the contact information for your representatives.

Join the effort by making a contribution to APPLL. This investment will help us fight for coverage across the country. You can make a donation online or by mailing a check.

Send a letter to your local paper for the Opinion section . Letters to the editor are a great tool to educate others and show public support for prosthetic parity. Contact the ACA’s policy office and we will send you a sample letter and can help you find the contact information for your local papers.

It is really easy to get involved. Together, we can make sure that people with limb loss get the coverage they need to lead independent, productive lives!

The ACA held an office opening party and campaign briefing in their new Washington, D.C., satellite office on July 24. It was a great success, with approximately 30 people in attendance.

Following an opening reception, the ACA’s advocacy director gave a brief presentation on the APPLL campaign and the need for support and action from local volunteers. This started a rousing discussion about insurance issues and promoted immediate action. Many people volunteered to jump on the phones and call members in Tennessee to promote a series of organizing and strategy meetings in Chattanooga, Memphis and Knoxville the following week. This event was a great start to building a strong volunteer program.

In the coming months, the ACA will continue to reach out to local volunteers to help send out fundraising mailings, conduct outreach campaigns, and generate activity around upcoming legislative battles. The support of people in the Washington, D.C. area, along with our members across the country, will certainly help to continue the incredible momentum around prosthetic coverage. 

The new ACA satellite office is thrilled to have volunteers offer their time and resources. If you are interested in volunteering with Amputee Coalition of America, in Washington, D.C. please do not hesitate to contact us.