A Parent's response to Tony Barr's opinion on NY parity legislation
Leslie Duncan
Description
Collection
Title:
A Parent's response to Tony Barr's opinion on NY parity legislation
Creator:
Leslie Duncan
Date:
2/9/2005
Text:
> Hi All,
>
> When I first read, yesterdays mail I was a little confused. I am not an amputee. My son is. When I realized, his cancer would necessitate an amputation I did not run to the yellow pages to find a prosthesis. I did what I believe any average person would do. I talked with professionals at the hospital, other amputees and the ACA. Did the research with second opinions and found a > > quality> > prosthesis for my son. When I did this, I found I out that my insurance does not cover ANY prosthesis > > qualified> > or > > unqualified.> > I was then FORCED to turn to Not- For-Profit , Welfare System and the Community I live in to provide a prosthetic for my son and maintain financial stability for my other two children. While I am forever grateful for these avenues and applaud their generosity I do not want to depend on hand outs, nor do I want the possibility of my son depending on them for the rest of his life. We NEED Insurance Companies to be responsible and provide coverage for my PAID premiums. That is the issue in short.
>
> I did not see any links to proposed or possible legislation that Mr. Barr is referring to. I believe that> '> s because there is none in NY but I could be wrong. If there is, I would GLADLY support such legislation as the separate issue that it is. I see no reason to > > Cut Off My Nose Despite My Face> >
>
> As Far as the cost issue, has anyone seen the numbers on the cost savings for the state of Colorado since the insurance mandate? I think it would be fair to say that the savings would way offset any costs. In fact the legislation Mr.Barr proposed would cost the state plenty to licence and monitor the prosthesis but I would still support such a bill as a SEPARATE issue.
>
> I also would like to address Mr. Barr> '> s > > wave of additional> > unqualified and untrained providers to NY. I> '> m not an Economics Major but I understand supply and demand and I don> '> t see an increase in Amputees ( demand) just amputees with an ability to pay their provider. Now assuming there is this > > wave> > of providers it would be fair to say they would be qualified as well as unqualified, thus creating competition (supply) and lowering costs. Like any business I believe only the QUALIFIED will survive for the most part.
>
> I am a little disturbed by the fact that Mr. Barr could not graciously decline support BUT actually posted opposition to Legislation on a well-visited web site for amputees. Now is the time we need unity between amputees and their families. Without at least this we stand little chance. I am a police officer with no self serving justification created by a vested interest.
>
> Of course like Mr. Barr> '> s this is just one opinion. I think the real answer comes from Colorado.They provided a model for us to look at. Do they have State Licencing and Regulations in place? If not, was there a Wave of unqualified providers there? Do we know of any amputees that have been hurt by their party> '> s bill? Better yet how many have been HELPED?
>
> I don> '> t have the answers but if pointed in the right direction we could do the footwork.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Keith Molinari
> <Email Address Redacted>
> (845)794-9680
>
> Leslie Duncan, MIS
> Manager, Information Services
> Amputee Coalition of America
> 900 East Hill Ave., Suite 285
> Knoxville, TN 37915-2568
> 888-267-5669 ext. 8115
> Fax 865-525-7917
> <Email Address Redacted>
> www.amputee-coalition.org
>
> This E-mail and any attachments contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be aware that any dissemination or copying of this E-mail is prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify us immediately by returning it to the sender and deleting this copy from your system. Thank you for your cooperation.>
>
>
>
>
>
> When I first read, yesterdays mail I was a little confused. I am not an amputee. My son is. When I realized, his cancer would necessitate an amputation I did not run to the yellow pages to find a prosthesis. I did what I believe any average person would do. I talked with professionals at the hospital, other amputees and the ACA. Did the research with second opinions and found a > > quality> > prosthesis for my son. When I did this, I found I out that my insurance does not cover ANY prosthesis > > qualified> > or > > unqualified.> > I was then FORCED to turn to Not- For-Profit , Welfare System and the Community I live in to provide a prosthetic for my son and maintain financial stability for my other two children. While I am forever grateful for these avenues and applaud their generosity I do not want to depend on hand outs, nor do I want the possibility of my son depending on them for the rest of his life. We NEED Insurance Companies to be responsible and provide coverage for my PAID premiums. That is the issue in short.
>
> I did not see any links to proposed or possible legislation that Mr. Barr is referring to. I believe that> '> s because there is none in NY but I could be wrong. If there is, I would GLADLY support such legislation as the separate issue that it is. I see no reason to > > Cut Off My Nose Despite My Face> >
>
> As Far as the cost issue, has anyone seen the numbers on the cost savings for the state of Colorado since the insurance mandate? I think it would be fair to say that the savings would way offset any costs. In fact the legislation Mr.Barr proposed would cost the state plenty to licence and monitor the prosthesis but I would still support such a bill as a SEPARATE issue.
>
> I also would like to address Mr. Barr> '> s > > wave of additional> > unqualified and untrained providers to NY. I> '> m not an Economics Major but I understand supply and demand and I don> '> t see an increase in Amputees ( demand) just amputees with an ability to pay their provider. Now assuming there is this > > wave> > of providers it would be fair to say they would be qualified as well as unqualified, thus creating competition (supply) and lowering costs. Like any business I believe only the QUALIFIED will survive for the most part.
>
> I am a little disturbed by the fact that Mr. Barr could not graciously decline support BUT actually posted opposition to Legislation on a well-visited web site for amputees. Now is the time we need unity between amputees and their families. Without at least this we stand little chance. I am a police officer with no self serving justification created by a vested interest.
>
> Of course like Mr. Barr> '> s this is just one opinion. I think the real answer comes from Colorado.They provided a model for us to look at. Do they have State Licencing and Regulations in place? If not, was there a Wave of unqualified providers there? Do we know of any amputees that have been hurt by their party> '> s bill? Better yet how many have been HELPED?
>
> I don> '> t have the answers but if pointed in the right direction we could do the footwork.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Keith Molinari
> <Email Address Redacted>
> (845)794-9680
>
> Leslie Duncan, MIS
> Manager, Information Services
> Amputee Coalition of America
> 900 East Hill Ave., Suite 285
> Knoxville, TN 37915-2568
> 888-267-5669 ext. 8115
> Fax 865-525-7917
> <Email Address Redacted>
> www.amputee-coalition.org
>
> This E-mail and any attachments contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be aware that any dissemination or copying of this E-mail is prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify us immediately by returning it to the sender and deleting this copy from your system. Thank you for your cooperation.>
>
>
>
>
Citation
Leslie Duncan, “A Parent's response to Tony Barr's opinion on NY parity legislation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/224245.
