With health care expenses continuing to rise exponentially, insurance plans are cutting costs in any way possible and have begun limiting coverage for prosthetic devices that help amputees resume a normal, productive life:

A recent Washington Post article chronicles the experience of Lorenzo Smith, a 15 year-old teenager from Maryland, who was struck by a car and had his leg amputated. Smith was told by his insurance company that they would only provide half of the $40,000 cost for a prosthetic leg (Please see article on reverse side). Lorenzo is not the only person being denied equitable coverage. For example, a number of health insurance companies have begun to limit reimbursement at unrealistic levels for prosthetic devices. Some have imposed $2,500 or even $1,000 annual maximums on prosthetic devices, which only covers a small portion of the total cost for these devices.

The Amputee Coalition of America is working to promote support for the Group Health Plan Prosthetics Parity Act of 2007 (HR 5615) that will require insurance companies that offer prosthetic services to provide the same level of coverage as they do for medical and surgical services.

As of this writing, the bipartisan bill's current co-sponsors include:

• Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ)
• Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
• Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA)
• Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
• Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)
• Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
• Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY)

It would be very helpful to have additional members of the New York Congressional delegation on board.

Call and/or write Your Congressman and ask them to support HR 5615

For more info on how you can support this legislation, visit the ACA Website.