State of the States

By: Daniel Ignaszewski, National Advocacy Specialist

 

Last year was an exciting time in the fight for parity. The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) helped to introduce bills in 15 states and pass four new parity laws. New Jersey, Indiana, Vermont, and Louisiana joined Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, and Oregon by enacting legislation creating a consistent, appropriate standard for prosthetic coverage. Two of the new bills also extend protections to orthotics (New Jersey and Indiana).

We now have 11 states with prosthetic parity laws in place. This year the ACA is helping 19 states to push through bills to ensure access to prosthetic care with another 10 looking to introduce bills in future sessions. With the hard work of local activists and the continued support of our allies, the ACA is confident that it will be adding additional state parity laws to the books in 2009.

Several states completed cost estimate studies on the proposed parity bills while the sessions were in recess in the fall. Each report has come back in favor of adopting parity legislation on both a social and economic basis. Socially, the analysis looked at the financial hardship faced by patients if their health plan has a cap on annual costs or if devices are not covered. Given the potentially significant cost to an individual or family for obtaining a medically prescribed prosthetic device, the proposed mandate is consistent with the role of insurance.

If prosthetic care is not covered or individual copayment amounts are high, individuals may be forced to use their retirement or college savings accounts, refinance a home mortgage, or obtain bank loans or credit lines in order to pay for a prescribed device.

Economically, the impact of enacting parity legislation would be minimal in terms of the premiums charged to customers. Furthermore, amputees who have appropriate access to prosthetic devices show a reduction in the secondary conditions caused by increased sedentary lifestyle, a decrease in dependence on caregivers, and a reduced chance of additional medical complications leading to further amputations. Mandating coverage may reduce the overall costs of health care due to a reduction in secondary complications.

The provision of prostheses results in a variety of benefits. Some are fiscal in nature, while others are related to quality of life issues. The findings in recent reports echo the results of studies conducted in other states.

The ACA is working hard to make sure people with limb loss or limb difference are able to access the prosthetic care and devices they need, but we need even more individuals to get involved in this effort. This is a grassroots movement. The more individuals we can get to take part at the state level, the more likely state legislatures will enact this commonsense legislation. There are many ways to get involved. You can write to or call your legislator. You can attend a hearing. Make your voice heard on this important issue!

Daniel Ignaszewski is the national advocacy specialist for the Amputee Coalition of America. To learn more about our state legislative efforts, contact him at state@amputee-coalition.org or 202/742-1885.