The ACA defines prosthetic parity as insurance companies covering prosthetic care on par with other basic medical services.
This Blog is intended to help groups organize at the grassroots level to support the state and federal campaign.
If you are interested involved in your state effort, contact us at state@amputee-coalition.org or 202/742-1885.
For more information about the congressional bill, we can be reached at federal@amputee-coalition.org or 202/742-1886.
June 22, 2006
PA: : Keep this important bill moving!
HB 2718, a bill for prosthetic coverage in Pennsylvania was introduced on Monday, June 5th. We are working to push for public hearing in the Committee on Health & Human Services the next day. We need your help to keep this bill moving forward!
Contact the Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee today to ask for a public hearing! Your letter should stress the need to get the bill out of committee for a vote on the floor. A sample letter is included below.
Rep. George Kenney (Chair of the Committee) Address: 108 Ryan Building, House Box 202020, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 Phone: 717-787-8523 Email: Gkenney@pahousegop.com Contact the committee members! Ask them to schedule a committee hearing on the bill in order to hear testimony on this very important bill!
Of the 28 committee members, 5 are co-sponsors of the bill including the Subcommittee Chair on Health, Rep. McIlhattan and the Secretary, Rep. Myers. The other committee co-sponsors include Rep. Bebko-Jones, Rep. Kotik and Rep. Lederer. Thank you to those of you who already wrote to your legislators in support of prosthetic parity. With your help, we can keep this important bill moving forward. Please, take action today!
I am writing in response to HB 2718, a bill for prosthetic coverage. 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. That is why this bill is so important!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. Our best financial data comes from Colorado. They were the first state to pass prostheticparity legislation in 1998. 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 is less than $1.50 per year. That is 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.
I am writing to urge the Health & Human Services committee to hold a public hearing for HB 2718 in order to allow you the opportunity to hear from Pennsylvanians about this important bill. Sincerely,Name, Address, Phone Read more!
NJ: Keep parity moving forward in the Garden State!
The efforts to win insurance parity in New Jersey are moving forward, but we need your help! The Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee heard A1011, a bill for prosthetic coverage on Monday, June 12th. After testimony from patients, prosthetists and ACA staff they passed the bill out of committee.
We now have a chance to pass it out of the Assembly, but we need your help!!
I am writing in response to A1011, a bill for prosthetic coverage. 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. That is why this bill is so important!
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. Our best financial data comes from Colorado. They were the first state to pass prosthetic parity legislation in 1998.
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 is less than $1.50 per year. That is 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.
A1011 just passed the Financial Institutions and Insurance committee after very compelling testimony from patients, prosthetists and the Amputee Coalition of America, the national advocacy group for people with limb loss. I am writing to urge you to support A1011 when it comes before the Assembly for a vote.
HB 7020 and SB 2176 were both introduced early in the year. Both bills would require coverage of orthotics and prosthetics.
Over the past few months, HB 7020 --- the House version of the bill --- has been through many hurdles. It was recommended that the measure be held for further study --- a step that may have kept the bill from moving forward. But on April 12th, the House committee recommended the bill for passage. And the bill passed out of the House on May 31st.
The Senate version was referred to the Health & Human Services committee at the beginning of June. There was some concern by many of the Rhode Island activists that the bill might get stuck at this stage given that this committee is a tough place for mandates even one with such strong support and such solid evidence demonstrating the cost effectiveness of prosthetic provision. But on June 19th, the committee recommended passage of the bill.
And last night the full Senate passed the bill!
The Senate added an amendment regarding indemnity. Given this change to the version that originated in the House, it will need to go back to the House before it can move to the Governor’s desk for a signature and be put into law. We are confident that this will happen before the end of this year’s session.
That means we should be just days away from the passage of a fourth state prosthetic parity law! Rhode Islands looks like it will join CO, ME and NH in ensuring that people with limb loss get the care they need to lead productive, independent lives!
We will keep you updated as this bill moves forward. Thank you to the many ACA members and supporters who have worked hard to pass this important bill!!
Thank you to an amazing advocate for access to quality care! While many patients, prosthetists and ACA members have worked to pass this bill, William R. Teoli has tirelessly led these efforts for many years. Mr. Teoli began his efforts to improve prosthetic care almost thirty years ago when he started advocating for licensure. He has continued to be an advocate for access to care through his commitment to prosthetic parity over the years. The progress of this bill is a testament to his dedication! Read more!
Background: The New York parity bill was first introduced in 2001. Following the initial presentation of the bill both the Assembly and Senate bills were referred to committee in 2005 and then again in 2006. Progress: 2006 was the first year that the New York coalition worked with the ACA through the Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL). On May 16th, the ACA brought together activists for a strategy meeting in New York City. The focus of the meeting was the need to educate legislators on the merits of the bill and raise awareness throughout the Empire State.
Status: Even though a great flurry of action happened after the May organizing meeting, we missed the opportunity to have the bill heard in the 2006 session. The session recently ended, but we will continue to work hard to until we have a prosthetic parity bill on the books! What’s Next: The ACA is working with stakeholders, as well as the campaign committee to organize a wide scale education effort to raise awareness about the need for prosthetic parity and build support in anticipation of working with legislators to re-introduce the bill in 2007.
We need your help to keep parity moving in New York! · Tell 10 people you know about our work for prosthetic parity.
· Write a letter to the editor and send it in to your local newspaper. This is a great way to raise awareness in your community.
This is very good news!! We need your help to keep this bill moving forward!
1) Contact the Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee. Your letter should stress the need to get the bill out of committee for a vote on the floor. Rep. George Kenney Address: 108 Ryan Building, House Box 202020, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 Phone: 717-787-8523 Email: Gkenney@pahousegop.com 2) Contact the committee members today! Tell them why they should support this important bill and ask them to schedule a committee hearing on the bill.
Of the 28 committee members, 5 are co-sponsors of the bill including the Subcommittee Chair on Health, Rep. McIlhattan and the Secretary, Rep. Myers. The other committee co-sponsors include Rep. Bebko-Jones, Rep. Kotik and Rep. Lederer.
3) Send a letter to the elected officials who represent you. And remember, a truly great letter will also include your own thoughts, stories and reasons for pushing for parity!
Search for your house and senate members at: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ Just enter your zip code in the upper right hand corner.
If your representative is a co-sponsor (supporter) of the bill, make sure to thank them!
Thank you to those of you who already wrote to your legislators in support of prosthetic parity. With your help, we can keep this important bill moving forward. Please, take action today!
NJ: The efforts to win insurance parity in the Garden State are moving forward!
The Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee heard A1011, a bill for prosthetic coverage back in the winter. Chairperson, Assemblyman Neil 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. The only opposition filed was by the Chamber of Commerce.
The bill has been stuck in committee since then, but now we have a chance to pass it onto the House floor for a full vote. This is very exciting news, but we need your help!!
→Call the committee today to urge them to support A1011! Contact the committee members electronically by clicking on the link below. Select the municipality/district and fill out the online form. (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Selectmun.asp)
Chair: Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D) Vice-Chair: Assemblyman Michael Panter (D) Phone: (908) 624-0880 Phone: (732) 544-2116 Municipality: Union, District 20 Municipality: Shrewsbury, District 12
Assemblyman Christopher Bateman (R) Assemblyman Jack Connors (D) Phone: (908) 526-3600 Phone: (856) 461-3997 Municipality: Somerville, District 16 Municipality: Delran, District 7
Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D) Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R) Phone: (973) 275-1113 Phone: (201) 666-0881 Municipality: South Orange, District 27 Municipality: Westwood, District 39
Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D) Phone: (732) 316-1885 Municipality: Carteret, District 19
