Letters to the Editor: A great way to push for parity!

As we work to pass parity legislation throughout the country, there will be many opportunities for activists to get involved. One way people can help right now is to submit a letter to theirlocal paper. Opinion pieces are a great way to demonstrate support and raise awareness.

Purpose of a letter to the editor: To respond negatively or positively to an article or editorial that a newspaper, journal or magazine has printed on an issue important to you.

Uses for a letter to the editor: You can use letters to express public support for a piece of legislation or local program. You can also write letters that respond to news coverage that is erroneous or different from your position. Don’t expect your letters to be printed every time.

Format
-The most important issue should be in the first paragraph.

-Keep it short.

-Make it legible (type it).

-Send letters to weekly community newspapers too...not just the daily papers.

-Be sure to include your contact information.

SAMPLE
Dear Editor,

Over 1.8 million Americans are living with limb loss or limb deficiency as a result of disease, trauma or birth defect. In return for premiums paid for group health insurance, consumers expect to be covered for catastrophic illness or injury. Sadly, without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care. When an individual discovers that prosthetic care is not covered, they may have to resort to using retirement or children’s college savings to purchase a prosthesis in order to remain working. This has a devastating effect on amputees and their families.

The biggest concern anybody has about passing a new mandate is cost. People fear that increasing the cost of insurance will reduce access to health care, but the data has shown that prosthetic parity actually results in a savings in medical costs.

The provision of prostheses results in a variety of benefits, some of which are fiscal in nature; some of which are more related to quality of life issues such as a reduction in the secondary conditions caused by a sedentary lifestyle and the ability to lead productive lives.

The financial and social benefits provide a strong case for coverage. The (state name) legislature needs to address this important issue. I urge people to contact their legislators in support of prosthetic coverage.

Sincerely,
Name, Address, Phone

TO FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED: Contact us at APPLL@amputee-coalition.org or 202-302-4373.

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Illinois: ACA to meet with industry leaders to push for parity.

The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists is a professional association working to promote professionalism and advance standards of patient care. Every year, the Academy holds a meeting to bring together practitioners, suppliers, students and a variety of others to look at new technology and practices in the field, build stronger networks and offer an opportunity to network and learn from each other.

The 2006 AAOP annual meeting is being held March 1-4 in Chicago, IL. The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) will be there to talk about our Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL).

It will take the strong support of people from the Academy and other professional associations to pass parity legislation and ensure prosthetic coverage throughout this country. The ACA will be at the AAOP annual meeting to spread the word and reach out to professionals to enlist their support in this important initiative.

For more information about APPLL, contact us at 202-302-4373 or msheets@amputee-coalition.org.

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Florida: Sunshine State to push for prosthetic parity in 2007!

On Wednesday, February 22nd the ACA joined the Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists (FAOP) for an exhibition in Tallahassee at the capitol to reach out to legislators and their staff to raise awareness about the needs of amputees. ACA and FAOP were joined by a wide range of partners including Otto Bock, Ossur, Hanger, and Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Regas Woods, a bilateral above-knee amputee and record holder in Track & Field also attended.

Right now, the FAOP is working with local partners and activists to update the Florida Licensure Law for Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics in order to continue to enhance and promote the provisions of this legislation and ensure quality care for all FL patients.

This is an important move forward for the Sunshine State. This effort will allow activists to open up a conversation about the standard of care that each patient should be able to not only expect, but also afford.

FL is hoping to launch a parity bill in the 2007 session. The Amputee Coalition of America will continue to work with local groups and individuals over the next year as we prepare to fight for prosthetic coverage. We will offer guidance throughout the campaign, as well as continued support on the ground. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

We would love to hear from Floridans who are interested in helping to push for prosthetic parity! Contact us at 202-302-4373 or msheets@amputee-coalition.org.

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Iowa: Prosthetic parity bill moves to sub-committee.

Last week in the midst of a snowstorm, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the proposed bill SSB 1281, a study bill requiring health care benefits for prosthetic devices.

The meeting went very well. Attendance was high even in the face of the challenging weather outside. In the days following, ACA has received positive feedback from committee members and local partners. And now it will go before a sub-committee to determine if it will move forward.

The continued activism of Iowans will make a big difference in our efforts to pass SSB 1281! This bill will ensure prosthetic parity – health coverage benefits for prosthetic devices will at a minimum be equal to the coverage that is provided for under federal laws. It is important that Iowans contact the subcommittee members to urge them to support the bill. Take action today!

Contact the sub-committee today to tell them to support SSB 1281!

Sen. Jeff Angelo (R-Creston) jeff.angelo@legis.state.ia.us
Sen. Tom Courtney (D-Burlington) thomas.courtney@legis.state.ia.us
Sen. Mark Zieman (R-Postville) mark.zieman@legis.state.ia.us
Sen. Roger Stewart (D-Preston) roger.stewart@legis.state.ia.us

Talking Points:

• In return for premiums paid for group health insurance, consumers expect to be covered for catastrophic illness or injury.
• Without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care.
• Current changes in insurance plans are having a devastating effect on amputees and their families.
• The availability of prostheses results in a number of long term benefits including a reduction in pain, decreased dependence on caretakers, and reduced chance of diabetic-related infection leading to limb amputation.
• The provision of prostheses results in a variety of benefits, some of which are fiscal in nature; some of which are more related to quality of life issues, which are less measurable.
• Supporting SSB 1281 will help to ensure that people with limb loss are given the opportunity to lead a full and productive life.

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Girl's Prosthetic Leg Stolen a Second Time

Girl's Prosthetic Leg Stolen a Second Time
By Associated Press

TEMPLE CITY, Calif. - For the second time in recent months, somebody broke into a 16-year-old girl's home and stole her prosthetic leg _ including one that had been donated following the first crime, authorities said.

The thieves took a $12,000 cosmetic leg and a donated $16,000 leg that Melissa Huff uses to play softball, her mother, Lisa Huff, said. She said a camera in the room was untouched.
"It's insane. Who hates her that bad?" Lisa Huff said. "I went back to the girls' room and the room was trashed. Mostly Melissa's stuff."

In the first theft, on Nov. 1, someone cut a hole in a window screen and also took video games and other items, authorities said. Her doctor and two real estate finance companies donated money for a new, shock-absorbent "sports leg" with a flexible foot.

On Tuesday, the thief pried open a screen window in the home, about 12 miles east of Los Angeles, said sheriff's Sgt. Russell Sprague. He said authorities have no leads.
Melissa's right leg was amputated two years ago after she was struck by a car. She resumed playing competitive softball after the accident and is now a high school sophomore.

"Now, she has nothing to walk with," said her father, David Huff.

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Good news in the Garden State

The efforts to win insurance parity took a huge step forward in New Jersey. On January 29th, the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee heard A1011, a bill that would require health benefits coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances. Chairperson, Assemblyman Neil Cohen indicated that the bill will move out of committee. An official vote will be held before it moves to the floor." Chairman Cohen said that the fiscal impact of the bill appeared to be "nominal" and that there was no reason to keep it from moving forward.

In 2004, Assemblyman Vincent Prieto,Assemblyman Brian P. Stack and Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen sponsored A2774 a similar bill to cover and reimburse care for people with limb loss. The bill never left committee. That makes the recent progress even more exciting.

This recent victory would not have been possible without the many ACA members in NJ who called and wrote to members of the Insurance Committee. Their actions truly made a difference.

We still have a lot of work to do, not only in New Jersey, but all across this country to get parity bills passed, but with the continued activism of our members, we are confident that we will continue to make progress.

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Taking Action on ACA’s Fight for Parity

People living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic and orthotic care. Right now countless people with limb loss are being told that their insurance company restricts them to one prosthesis per lifetime or to $2,500 per year or less in prosthetic care. One way to resolve access and coverage issues is to push for insurance parity, that is, insurance coverage of appropriate prosthetic care. To take on the critical challenge of advancing insurance parity and ensure that people are given the care they need, the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) launched APPLL, the Action Plan for People with Limb Loss.

At the beginning of January, key staff met to finalize a campaign plan for 2006. The plan targets five state legislatures for the passage of parity bills in 2006. We will provide the necessary guidance and assistance to local groups to help facilitate their organizing, fundraising and communications efforts.

Over the next two years, we will continue to monitor state activity and provide assistance in up to 11 other key states. The goal is to pass parity legislation in these states by 2008.

As the campaign grows, we plan to hire additional staff to help meet fundraising and program goals. We will also offer on the ground staff support at the state level during key times in the campaign.

In addition to our efforts to pass state legislation, APPLL will work over the next few years to develop the capacity and infrastructure needed to launch a federal advocacy program.

The APPLL campaign will help provide ACA the platform to increase our national presence and significantly increase fundraising opportunities. Increased funding will help to further ACA’s mission as a whole and give us the opportunity to continue to expand our programs and services.

Coalition outreach will be critical to the success of APPLL. The ACA already has strong ties with many providers and like minded organizations. We will continue to expand these outreach initiatives and build our networks in order to strengthen and enhance the campaign.

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Working for coverage for all Americans!

Imus in the morning recently did a show about the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the need for funding for the BAMC rehabilitation center in San Antonio. The radio program has raised $2 million to help with the construction of the center.

There have been many stories in the news about soldiers coming home from combat and needing prosthetic and orthotic services as a result of their injuries. The ACA is excited that our soldiers are receiving such amazing care. We are working to ensure that all Americans receive comparable care.

A response from ACA’s Chief Executive Officer, Paddy Rossbach

I was run over by a navy truck during WWII in England at age 6. I appreciate and applaud the high level of surgical, prosthetic and rehabilitation care that our wounded are receiving. It shows the American people what can be achieved as these men and women are being returned to an active productive lifestyle.

I would like to draw your attention to what is unfortunately happening to young and working age amputees in the civilian world. Insurance companies are discriminating against this group by either placing restrictive lifetime or annual caps on reimbursement, or eliminating coverage altogether!

Disregarding the effect on working adults, imagine a child born with an absent limb, or one of the kids attending your camp who has had an amputation for cancer finding out that their insurance company restricts them to one prosthesis per lifetime, or that they are capped at $2,500 for life. Unfortunately this is happening every day.

The ACA is spearheading a campaign to address this by introducing legislation state by state to mandate appropriate coverage and when this has been achieved addressing federal mandates. As you can imagine this is a costly initiative but one that must be undertaken.

Nobody expects to have a limb amputated, and most people have no idea what their insurance policy would cover if they did.
________________________________
For more information, contact us at 888/AMP-KNOW or contact msheets@amputee-coalition.org

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ACA Names National APPLL Campaign Director

Sheets to Spearhead Action Plan for People with Limb Loss

Knoxville, Tennessee – The Amputee Coalition of America is proud to announce the hiring of Morgan Sheets as campaign director for the Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL).

The APPLL campaign will work with stakeholders, activists and coalition partners throughout the country to develop policy recommendations to address the healthcare needs of people with limb loss.

“With Morgan in place, the ACA will be able to offer strategic planning, guidance and assistance in parity legislation to grassroots activists and industry partners nationwide,” states Paddy Rossbach, ACA President/CEO.

ACA has grown to a point where it needs to expand its national presence. Therefore, the ACA national campaign policy office will be located in Washington, D.C.

“An office in Washington will provide the ACA with a higher profile and will allow us to advance federal legislation in the long-term,” adds Sheets.

Morgan Sheets is no stranger to state and federal advocacy efforts. She managed a national field program around women’s health issues, and ran a statewide political organization involving access to care and equitable insurance coverage.

Sheets also coordinated a national training program which included strategic planning, a mentoring program, nonprofit staff development, and training grassroots activists’ organization skills.

Sheets states, “I am excited to join the Amputee Coalition of America and build on their amazing work in empowering amputees to improve their quality of life.”

Activists and those interested in supporting ACA’s parity efforts may contact Sheets by calling the ACA’s headquarters toll-free at 888/267-5669, directly at 202/302-4373 or via e-mail at msheets@amputee-coalition.org.

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