Re: Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

Re: Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

Sam Hamontree

5/6/2011

Using the link provided by NAAOP, even I, followed it and sent the message. It was extremely simple straight forward and took less than 5 minutes. Now, if it will do some good with CA's Feinstein and Boxer, it will have been a miracle. I strongly urge everyone to do the same.

Thanks to Peter and NAAOP for making it so simple.


Sam E. Hamontree, CP
949-863-1951
<Email Address Redacted>


-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On Behalf Of NAAOP
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 8:39 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR S. 773

On April 8, 2011, Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Tom Harkin (D-IA)
introduced S.773, the Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act, which in previous
Congresses was entitled the Prosthetic and Custom Orthotic Parity Act. S.773
would require plans that cover orthotic and prosthetic services to provide
those benefits at the same level as other surgical and medical benefits
provided under a private health plan, with no separate caps, arbitrary
exclusions or lifetime limits for O&P care.

Because the bill does not mandate coverage, the bill should not cost the
federal government anything. Similar legislation is expected to be
introduced in the House of Representatives.

Reintroduction of this legislation is critical in the O&P profession's
efforts to have orthotic and prosthetic services and devices covered under
the essential health benefits package under the health reform bill.
Introduction also creates a rallying cry around which O&P consumers and
providers can organize advocacy efforts. We are asking all Senators to
cosponsor this important legislation. As members of the Senate and House are
asked to cosponsor this bill, the general awareness level of the importance
of O&P coverage continues to take hold.

Many O&P organizations deserve great credit for the success thus far of this
initiative especially the Amputee Coalition. The Coalition has been the lead
supporter of federal parity efforts and has worked tirelessly over the years
to enact state based legislation that also ensures insurance fairness for
O&P coverage under private insurance. In fact, currently, 19 states have
passed legislation ensuring that access to prosthetic or orthotic services
and devices is on par with other medical /surgical benefits in policies
offering O&P coverage.

In addition to the Amputee Coalition, members of the O&P Alliance,
particularly the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, have worked
hard on this issue, as well as Hanger.

NAAOP strongly supports S. 773 and is working hard to see that as many
Senators as possible become cosponsors of the legislation. WE URGE YOU TO
TAKE THE TIME TO:

1. Visit our websites (www.naaop.org) Congressional Action Center to
immediately send a message to your Senator urging him or her to cosponsor S.
773; a draft message is there for you to send.

2. Use your 112th Congressional Directory to call your Senators or call the
Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your two Senators' offices.
Ask them to cosponsor S. 773 and why it is so important they do so.

Thank you for your support of the NAAOP and the O&P profession!

Please visit our website at: www.naaop.org

NAAOP
1501 M Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005-1700
e-mail: <Email Address Redacted>
(800) 622-6740
(202) 624-0064 Phone
(202) 785-1756 Fax
www.naaop.org