Action Alert: Attention Missouri O&P Professionals
AOPA
Description
Collection
Title:
Action Alert: Attention Missouri O&P Professionals
Creator:
AOPA
Date:
2/3/2005
Text:
AOPA STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
February 3, 2005
URGE MISSOURI STATE LAWMAKERS TO MAINTAIN O&P COVERAGE UNDER THE
MISSOURI MEDICAID PROGRAM
Gov. Matt Blunt has proposed the elimination of Medicaid O&P coverage
and payment for patients over 18. This proposal is included in the 2006
state fiscal year budget. The O&P profession and their patients need to
contact their state lawmakers and urge them to maintain coverage for
orthotic and prosthetic services. We have learned that no opposition has
been raised about the impact this proposal will have on patients.
Currently the Missouri House Appropriations Subcommittee will hold
another hearing on the proposed budget Monday Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. An O&P
Practitioner will testify against this proposal at the hearing.
AOPA strongly opposes the elimination of O&P coverage under the Missouri
Medicaid program and because of the magnitude of the issues at stake, we
ask that all Missouri O&P professionals and their patients contact the
following state lawmakers immediately, and use the talking points below.
The following is a list of the House Appropriations Subcommittee members
who need to be contacted ASAP:
Jodi Stefanick, Chair-(573) 751-4392
Otto Bean, Vice Chair-(573) 751-8591
Sharon Brooks-(573) 751-1309
Robert Cooper-(573) 751-1119
Charles Denison-(573) 751-2210
Margaret Donnelly-(573) 751-0100
Yaphett El-Amin-(573) 751-2198
Ward Franz-(573) 751-1455
Connie Johnson-(573) 751-7605
Beth Low-(573) 751-4485
Sam Page-(573) 751-9762
David Sater-(573) 751-1480
Tom Self-(573) 751-3971
Bryan Stevenson-(573) 751-7082
Mike Sutherland-(573) 751-2689
Raymond Weter-(573) 751-2565
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 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, and many other devastating
conditions 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 Missouri's state expenditures, since affected 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.
Elimination of Medicaid coverage will have an adverse impact on orthotic
and prosthetic patient care facilities and their employees
Patient care facilities that provide O&P services to Missouri residents
will face increased financial hardships if the state goes through with
its planned cuts. As facility costs continue to increase, the
elimination of Medicaid payments for these services will likely force
some facilities into bankruptcy. Thus, not only will access to O&P
services be harmed but the employees of these facilities will be forced
into unemployment.
If you have questions on these issues or about how to contact your state
lawmakers, please call AOPA's Walt Gorski or Tim Redmon at (571)
431-0876, ext. 209 or 259.
AOPA thanks you for your efforts on behalf of the O&P field. Your input
makes a difference!
February 3, 2005
URGE MISSOURI STATE LAWMAKERS TO MAINTAIN O&P COVERAGE UNDER THE
MISSOURI MEDICAID PROGRAM
Gov. Matt Blunt has proposed the elimination of Medicaid O&P coverage
and payment for patients over 18. This proposal is included in the 2006
state fiscal year budget. The O&P profession and their patients need to
contact their state lawmakers and urge them to maintain coverage for
orthotic and prosthetic services. We have learned that no opposition has
been raised about the impact this proposal will have on patients.
Currently the Missouri House Appropriations Subcommittee will hold
another hearing on the proposed budget Monday Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. An O&P
Practitioner will testify against this proposal at the hearing.
AOPA strongly opposes the elimination of O&P coverage under the Missouri
Medicaid program and because of the magnitude of the issues at stake, we
ask that all Missouri O&P professionals and their patients contact the
following state lawmakers immediately, and use the talking points below.
The following is a list of the House Appropriations Subcommittee members
who need to be contacted ASAP:
Jodi Stefanick, Chair-(573) 751-4392
Otto Bean, Vice Chair-(573) 751-8591
Sharon Brooks-(573) 751-1309
Robert Cooper-(573) 751-1119
Charles Denison-(573) 751-2210
Margaret Donnelly-(573) 751-0100
Yaphett El-Amin-(573) 751-2198
Ward Franz-(573) 751-1455
Connie Johnson-(573) 751-7605
Beth Low-(573) 751-4485
Sam Page-(573) 751-9762
David Sater-(573) 751-1480
Tom Self-(573) 751-3971
Bryan Stevenson-(573) 751-7082
Mike Sutherland-(573) 751-2689
Raymond Weter-(573) 751-2565
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 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, and many other devastating
conditions 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 Missouri's state expenditures, since affected 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.
Elimination of Medicaid coverage will have an adverse impact on orthotic
and prosthetic patient care facilities and their employees
Patient care facilities that provide O&P services to Missouri residents
will face increased financial hardships if the state goes through with
its planned cuts. As facility costs continue to increase, the
elimination of Medicaid payments for these services will likely force
some facilities into bankruptcy. Thus, not only will access to O&P
services be harmed but the employees of these facilities will be forced
into unemployment.
If you have questions on these issues or about how to contact your state
lawmakers, please call AOPA's Walt Gorski or Tim Redmon at (571)
431-0876, ext. 209 or 259.
AOPA thanks you for your efforts on behalf of the O&P field. Your input
makes a difference!
Citation
AOPA, “Action Alert: Attention Missouri O&P Professionals,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/224258.
