NAAOP Sponsors Congressional Briefing on the Importance of Rehabilitation
NAAOP
Description
Collection
Title:
NAAOP Sponsors Congressional Briefing on the Importance of Rehabilitation
Creator:
NAAOP
Date:
7/7/2011
Text:
NAAOP Sponsors Congressional Briefing on the Importance of Rehabilitation
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, NAAOP helped sponsor a standing-room-only
congressional briefing on The Importance of Rehabilitation in America's
Healthcare System. The briefing took place in the U.S. Capitol Visitors
Center and highlighted for policymakers the value of rehabilitation and
habilitation services and devices for people who sustain injuries, have
disabilities or chronic conditions.
Peter Thomas, NAAOP General Counsel, moderated the briefing and provided the
context for the information presented to attendees. Mr. Thomas spoke to the
regulatory efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services to
establish the criteria and scope of the essential health benefits package,
which will include the category of rehabilitative and habilitative services
and devices as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Thomas also spoke
of current efforts by states to cut Medicaid benefits and the importance of
protecting coverage of rehabilitative services and devices across the
country. Finally, Mr. Thomas stressed the importance of understanding the
cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation services and devices as Congress and
the President negotiate significant reforms to the entitlement programs such
as Medicare and Medicaid in the context of raising the nation's debt
ceiling.
Mr. Thomas related his own experience with rehabilitation care and his
life-long use of prosthetic limbs. He noted how important it is that
insurance (whether private or government-sponsored) include coverage of
orthotic and prosthetic care, including replacements, services and supplies
that permit the effective use of O&P devices.
The featured speaker of the briefing was Gerard Francisco, M.D., the Chief
Medical Officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann and the Chairman of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brian Injury Fellowship Director at the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Francisco is the
attending rehabilitation physician for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who
sustained a brain injury as a result of a gunshot wound earlier this year.
Dr. Francisco's presence helped attract a large crowd to the event. He spoke
compellingly on the impact of rehabilitative and habilitative services on
the health, functional status, and ability of Americans with brain injuries
and other disabilities to recover from trauma and disease and live
independently in their homes and communities. Dr. Francisco illustrated his
points with references to the Congresswoman's rehabilitation program and
spoke to the Congresswoman's strength and hard work during her recovery.
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan
Disabilities Caucus and the only quadriplegic in Congress, delivered closing
remarks at the briefing. At least 70 Congressional staffers attended the
briefing representing dozens of House and Senate offices, including several
Members who serve on relevant health committees. Press covered the event in
depth, with NBC and ABC News videotaping the entire briefing. There were
also writers from Hill publications, including Politico, which ran multiple
stories on the event. By all accounts, the briefing was a strong success.
The room was overfull and Congressional staff was presented with a wide
range of information on rehabilitation and the value of O&P patient care,
all designed to assist legislators and regulators with O&P public policy in
the future.
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
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, NAAOP helped sponsor a standing-room-only
congressional briefing on The Importance of Rehabilitation in America's
Healthcare System. The briefing took place in the U.S. Capitol Visitors
Center and highlighted for policymakers the value of rehabilitation and
habilitation services and devices for people who sustain injuries, have
disabilities or chronic conditions.
Peter Thomas, NAAOP General Counsel, moderated the briefing and provided the
context for the information presented to attendees. Mr. Thomas spoke to the
regulatory efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services to
establish the criteria and scope of the essential health benefits package,
which will include the category of rehabilitative and habilitative services
and devices as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Thomas also spoke
of current efforts by states to cut Medicaid benefits and the importance of
protecting coverage of rehabilitative services and devices across the
country. Finally, Mr. Thomas stressed the importance of understanding the
cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation services and devices as Congress and
the President negotiate significant reforms to the entitlement programs such
as Medicare and Medicaid in the context of raising the nation's debt
ceiling.
Mr. Thomas related his own experience with rehabilitation care and his
life-long use of prosthetic limbs. He noted how important it is that
insurance (whether private or government-sponsored) include coverage of
orthotic and prosthetic care, including replacements, services and supplies
that permit the effective use of O&P devices.
The featured speaker of the briefing was Gerard Francisco, M.D., the Chief
Medical Officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann and the Chairman of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brian Injury Fellowship Director at the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Francisco is the
attending rehabilitation physician for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who
sustained a brain injury as a result of a gunshot wound earlier this year.
Dr. Francisco's presence helped attract a large crowd to the event. He spoke
compellingly on the impact of rehabilitative and habilitative services on
the health, functional status, and ability of Americans with brain injuries
and other disabilities to recover from trauma and disease and live
independently in their homes and communities. Dr. Francisco illustrated his
points with references to the Congresswoman's rehabilitation program and
spoke to the Congresswoman's strength and hard work during her recovery.
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan
Disabilities Caucus and the only quadriplegic in Congress, delivered closing
remarks at the briefing. At least 70 Congressional staffers attended the
briefing representing dozens of House and Senate offices, including several
Members who serve on relevant health committees. Press covered the event in
depth, with NBC and ABC News videotaping the entire briefing. There were
also writers from Hill publications, including Politico, which ran multiple
stories on the event. By all accounts, the briefing was a strong success.
The room was overfull and Congressional staff was presented with a wide
range of information on rehabilitation and the value of O&P patient care,
all designed to assist legislators and regulators with O&P public policy in
the future.
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
Citation
NAAOP, “NAAOP Sponsors Congressional Briefing on the Importance of Rehabilitation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 25, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/232781.
