In a statement released by the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Peter W. Thomas, JD, general counsel for NAAOP, discussed the advancements in the House of Representatives and Senate for the Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act.
The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced in the Senate last year, was recently introduced into the House by Congressmen Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) and Rob Andrews (D-N.J.). The bill would improve and protect insurance coverage for consumers and practitioners of O&P care.
Although rehabilitative devices will be covered under the Affordable Care Act, Thomas stressed that there is no guarantee that O&P devices will be included, especially at the state level, where individual states will have control over what is covered under its Essential Benefits Package. He urged the O&P community to advocate for the bill’s passage.
“This legislation allows the O&P community to come together, rally around this legislation and make coverage of O&P a real issue,” Thomas said in the statement. “Orthotic and prosthetic care is critical and needs to be covered. Not only in privately insured, fully insured products, but in self-insured plans, as well. And that’s what this bill does.”
Thomas encouraged supporters of the Act to request that their local senators and congress members become co-sponsors to ensure that the bill is passed.