Fw: A Message Supporting Advocacy From ACA
Anthony T. Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Fw: A Message Supporting Advocacy From ACA
Creator:
Anthony T. Barr
Date:
2/23/2002
Text:
At bottom of the page, there is a recent e-mail message,condensed to comply with the maximum wordage allowed by OANDP-L, from ACA President Paddy Rossbach that was sent to some of the growing list of advocacy supporters subscribed to the Amputee Listserve and O&P listserve.
Since I was mentioned in the content of that message, I thought I would share her comments but first add my own thoughts below regarding the issue and the urgent need of encouraging ACA to advocate on our behalf.
As is reflected on ACA's advocacy website, www.amputee-coalition.org/aca_advocacy.htm a newly formed ACA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC) will identify these public policies and that committee will be comprised of a sub-set of members of the Board of Directors and senior ACA staff and determine positions and direct staff to carry-out actions.
As amputees and O&P professionals, we are the victims of reduced or non existent coverage and often sadly witness the delivery of substandard O&P healthcare services by a generally unregulated profession on a far to often basis.
Advocacy, by definition means to support, encourage, back, sponsor or promote on behalf of something or someone.
We hope those somethings will include supporting promoting the establishment of the highest standards possible for quality and affordable prosthetic health care services, to state and federal government agencies and professional associations.
We hope those someones will be for consumers and professionals, to encourage and support affordable and quality prosthetic health care services.
We are encouraged by ACA's new commitment and recognition that advocacy is a area that requires more attention.
We look forward to this national organization to establish public policy positions in areas of identified advocacy.
They have also established a Grassroots Committee whom will work with the PPAC to develop target grassroots efforts around key ACA advocacy priorities.
ACA's new found role of activating their willingness to support, identify and address support of priority advocacy issues to a variety of individuals, professional and governmental agencies, is certainly timely and welcomed.
Timely, because even if you, as an amputee, are fortunate enough to have current and ample prosthetic coverage now, the growing trend of reducing and eliminating coverages for comprehensive prosthetic services is on the rise, as is the cost replacement components and supplies.
The average life span of a a/k or b/k basic prosthesis is less than three years for an active indivisual and can cost anywhere between $8,000-$40,000 !
If you are 30 years old you may require 15 to 2O more prostheses if you are fortunate enough to reach the national average lifespan ! That equates to the possibility of a individual's or third party payer's cost of $120,000 to $800,000 without regard to future inflation and price increases ! One of the major reasons insurers limit or avoid providing any prosthetic insurance coverage is because the providers are for the most part unregulated and the cost of providing these services, particularly components are costly and the frequency of replacement remains so high.
Timely, because there are an growing number of 300-400 new amputees entering the market place each day in this country alone and whom will be requiring proper and affordable initial and follow-up prosthetic care.
Now add to that number the estimate of 2 million US amputees that exist today and whom require periodic replacement or repairs!
Welcomed, because the profession of O&P is generally unregulated in this country and there is growing national trend to lower the educational and qualification standards for providers of these comprehensive health care services.This is seriously being proposed to allegedly increase the supply of providers to meet the increased demand, without regard to the qualifications of those providers!!!
This would also include the current proposal of establishing federal policy of competitive bidding for reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid O&P services.
As the major national consumer advocacy organization fro amputees, we respectively urge that ACA request a seat at the Negotiated Rules Committee Hearings to be held in the near future and whom will determine future qualifications of providers.
ACA has correctly recognized the past efforts and hard work, dedication and drive of many individuals and groups within and outside ACA itself. Their recent recognition of adopting a increased advocacy role opens the door for both consumers, ACA members or not, and professionals of these healthcare services, ACA members or not, to identify your greatest concerns.
I suggest, while that door remains open to members and non members, you direct your comments to the AMPUTEE LISTSERVE if you are a consumer of these services and the OANDP-LISTSERVE if you are a provider of these services.
Perhaps ACA, particularly the committee members of the newly formed PPRC, would consider subscribing to these invaluable listserves for a real opportunity to reach out and have open dialogue and discussion of these issues with the people that are most effected and with the people they allegedly represent, before the July meeting in Anaheim.
We've got over 4 months before then to identify and address alot of the issues for formal support before the Advocacy workshops!!
I have identified some of my own personal concerns and leading issues above. How about we hear from you?
ACA would also like to hear from both groups by responding to www.amputee-coalition.org and completing their public policy online survey.
Thank You,
Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Paddy Rossbach < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 2:14 PM
Subject: Fw: RE: rec'd from ACA
>
> > > Your name has come to our attention because you
> > > responded positively to
> > > Tony Barr's request for volunteers for an advocacy
> > > workshop. Although Mr.
> > > Barr's action was
> > > enthusiastic, it was not in response to any ACA
> > > request, nor is it
> > > sanctioned by the ACA.
> > >
> > > Recognizing that advocacy is an area that needs more
> > > attention, the ACA has
> > > been actively and responsibly identifying and
> > > pursuing advocacy issues for
> > > some time now. Last
> > > summer, a committee under the leadership of ACA
> > > board member, Brad Ruhl,
> > > developed a proposal for increased ACA advocacy, and
> > > the board of directors
> > > adopted that
> > > proposal in September 2001. We are now in the
> > > process of implementing the
> > > increased advocacy efforts:
> > > Paddy Rossbach, RN
> > > President & CEO
> > > Amputee Coalition of America
Since I was mentioned in the content of that message, I thought I would share her comments but first add my own thoughts below regarding the issue and the urgent need of encouraging ACA to advocate on our behalf.
As is reflected on ACA's advocacy website, www.amputee-coalition.org/aca_advocacy.htm a newly formed ACA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC) will identify these public policies and that committee will be comprised of a sub-set of members of the Board of Directors and senior ACA staff and determine positions and direct staff to carry-out actions.
As amputees and O&P professionals, we are the victims of reduced or non existent coverage and often sadly witness the delivery of substandard O&P healthcare services by a generally unregulated profession on a far to often basis.
Advocacy, by definition means to support, encourage, back, sponsor or promote on behalf of something or someone.
We hope those somethings will include supporting promoting the establishment of the highest standards possible for quality and affordable prosthetic health care services, to state and federal government agencies and professional associations.
We hope those someones will be for consumers and professionals, to encourage and support affordable and quality prosthetic health care services.
We are encouraged by ACA's new commitment and recognition that advocacy is a area that requires more attention.
We look forward to this national organization to establish public policy positions in areas of identified advocacy.
They have also established a Grassroots Committee whom will work with the PPAC to develop target grassroots efforts around key ACA advocacy priorities.
ACA's new found role of activating their willingness to support, identify and address support of priority advocacy issues to a variety of individuals, professional and governmental agencies, is certainly timely and welcomed.
Timely, because even if you, as an amputee, are fortunate enough to have current and ample prosthetic coverage now, the growing trend of reducing and eliminating coverages for comprehensive prosthetic services is on the rise, as is the cost replacement components and supplies.
The average life span of a a/k or b/k basic prosthesis is less than three years for an active indivisual and can cost anywhere between $8,000-$40,000 !
If you are 30 years old you may require 15 to 2O more prostheses if you are fortunate enough to reach the national average lifespan ! That equates to the possibility of a individual's or third party payer's cost of $120,000 to $800,000 without regard to future inflation and price increases ! One of the major reasons insurers limit or avoid providing any prosthetic insurance coverage is because the providers are for the most part unregulated and the cost of providing these services, particularly components are costly and the frequency of replacement remains so high.
Timely, because there are an growing number of 300-400 new amputees entering the market place each day in this country alone and whom will be requiring proper and affordable initial and follow-up prosthetic care.
Now add to that number the estimate of 2 million US amputees that exist today and whom require periodic replacement or repairs!
Welcomed, because the profession of O&P is generally unregulated in this country and there is growing national trend to lower the educational and qualification standards for providers of these comprehensive health care services.This is seriously being proposed to allegedly increase the supply of providers to meet the increased demand, without regard to the qualifications of those providers!!!
This would also include the current proposal of establishing federal policy of competitive bidding for reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid O&P services.
As the major national consumer advocacy organization fro amputees, we respectively urge that ACA request a seat at the Negotiated Rules Committee Hearings to be held in the near future and whom will determine future qualifications of providers.
ACA has correctly recognized the past efforts and hard work, dedication and drive of many individuals and groups within and outside ACA itself. Their recent recognition of adopting a increased advocacy role opens the door for both consumers, ACA members or not, and professionals of these healthcare services, ACA members or not, to identify your greatest concerns.
I suggest, while that door remains open to members and non members, you direct your comments to the AMPUTEE LISTSERVE if you are a consumer of these services and the OANDP-LISTSERVE if you are a provider of these services.
Perhaps ACA, particularly the committee members of the newly formed PPRC, would consider subscribing to these invaluable listserves for a real opportunity to reach out and have open dialogue and discussion of these issues with the people that are most effected and with the people they allegedly represent, before the July meeting in Anaheim.
We've got over 4 months before then to identify and address alot of the issues for formal support before the Advocacy workshops!!
I have identified some of my own personal concerns and leading issues above. How about we hear from you?
ACA would also like to hear from both groups by responding to www.amputee-coalition.org and completing their public policy online survey.
Thank You,
Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
----- Original Message -----
From: Paddy Rossbach < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 2:14 PM
Subject: Fw: RE: rec'd from ACA
>
> > > Your name has come to our attention because you
> > > responded positively to
> > > Tony Barr's request for volunteers for an advocacy
> > > workshop. Although Mr.
> > > Barr's action was
> > > enthusiastic, it was not in response to any ACA
> > > request, nor is it
> > > sanctioned by the ACA.
> > >
> > > Recognizing that advocacy is an area that needs more
> > > attention, the ACA has
> > > been actively and responsibly identifying and
> > > pursuing advocacy issues for
> > > some time now. Last
> > > summer, a committee under the leadership of ACA
> > > board member, Brad Ruhl,
> > > developed a proposal for increased ACA advocacy, and
> > > the board of directors
> > > adopted that
> > > proposal in September 2001. We are now in the
> > > process of implementing the
> > > increased advocacy efforts:
> > > Paddy Rossbach, RN
> > > President & CEO
> > > Amputee Coalition of America
Citation
Anthony T. Barr, “Fw: A Message Supporting Advocacy From ACA,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 28, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/218060.
