AOPA ACTION ALERT--GEORGIA PRACTITIONERS AND PATIENTS

AOPA ACTION ALERT--GEORGIA PRACTITIONERS AND PATIENTS

AOPA

2/26/2004

***ATTENTION GEORGIA PRACTITIONERS***

AOPA STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT--IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

February 26, 2004

URGE GEORGIA STATE LAWMAKERS TO OPPOSE THE ELIMINATION OF O&P SERVICES
FROM GEORGIA MEDICAID PROGRAM

The Georgia General Assembly is poised to vote on its 2005 state fiscal
year budget proposal, which includes a provision that would eliminate
coverage and payment for orthotic and prosthetic devices under the
Georgia Medicaid program. The O&P profession and their patients need to
contact their state lawmakers and urge them to maintain coverage for
orthotic and prosthetic services.

The Georgia House is expected to vote on this proposal sometime during
the week of March 1. The Georgia Senate is expected to vote on the
proposal as early as the following week.

AOPA strongly opposes the elimination of O&P coverage under the Georgia
Medicaid program and because of the magnitude of the issues at stake, it
is essential that all Georgia O&P professionals and their patients
contact state lawmakers immediately. We urge you to contact each of the
following state lawmakers and use the talking points listed below:

The following is a list of key state lawmakers who need to be contacted:

State Representative Tom Buck-(404)656-5052
State Representative Mickey Channell-(404)656-5138
State Representative Ann Purcell-(404)656-5139
State Representative Jay Shaw-(404)656-5146
State Representative Ron Stephens-(404)656-0202
State Senator Jack Hill-(404)656-5038
State Senator Eric Johnson-(404)656-5109
State Senator Tommie Williams-(404)656-0089

**TALKING POINTS**

--Elimination of O&P coverage will have a devastating impact on patients
in need of O&P services

If orthotic and prosthetic coverage is eliminated from the Georgia
Medicaid program, it will have a devastating impact on an individual's
rehabilitation. Under the proposed state budget, an individual who
experiences a limb amputation, spinal injury, rheumatoid arthritis,
post-polio syndrome, ligament injuries, etc., will now go without
appropriate medical care if the proposed cuts are implemented.

Moreover, as existing devices age, fitting and functional problems will
result in more extensive and costly medical conditions such as skin
breakdowns, infections, falls, fractures and countless other
complications ultimately requiring expensive care. Thus, rather than
receiving cost-effective care and treatment from an orthotist or
prosthetist, patients will unavoidably be required to seek covered
services in far most costly settings such as hospital emergency rooms or
physicians' offices.

--Provision of O&P care gets patients back into the workforce and
reduces their reliance on other public assistance programs

The proposed elimination of orthotic and prosthetic services also may
exacerbate Georgia's state expenditures since these individuals will
have tremendous difficulty re-entering the workforce and may require
additional state public assistance programs (i.e., extended
hospitalization, home health/visiting nurse services, wheelchair, van
and ambulance transportation, income and housing assistance, etc.) Such
scenarios would mean that an individual's ability to return to the work
force and earn a taxable income to contribute his or her fair share in
state tax revenues would be severely jeopardized if not eliminated.

If you have questions on these issues or about how to contact your state
lawmakers, please call Walt Gorski at AOPA at (571) 431-0809.

AOPA thanks you for your efforts on behalf of the O&P field. Your input
makes a difference!