BREAKING NEWS!  The ACA is excited to announce that with the help of our dedicated local activists, the Connecticut legislature passed prosthetic parity without caps or exemptions!  This makes Connecticut the 18th state, and 7th this year to pass parity legislation! 

The bill will make sure that insurance companies that are regulated at the state level will be required to cover prosthetics that are deemed medically necessary by a treating physician on at least equivalent to the coverage under Medicare standards.

The prosthetic parity language was amended into HB 5021.  The House passed the bill on May 28th by a vote of 98 to 49.  The Senate passed the bill on June 3 by a vote of 25 to 11.  The bill will now move to Governor Rell's desk to await her action.  She has two weeks to sign it or it will go into effect without her action.   

A special thank you goes out to Dennis Huysman and Greg and Rachel Grusse and the many Connecticut activists who worked so hard to pass this important legislation!

What’s Next?  This is a huge win for amputees in Connecticut.  This bill will provide protections for amputees covered by plans regulated at the state level.  The next step is to enact federal legislation in order to ensure coverage for federally regulated benefits, as well as those in states that have not yet passed parity into law. 

Take Action!  The win in Connecticut clearly sends a message to the rest of the country that it is time to make prosthetic parity the rule and not the exception.  With your help we can build on this tremendous momentum and get legislation through Congress!  Please, contact your members of Congress and urge them to support HR 2575, the federal prosthetic and orthotic parity bill!

Contact your member of Congress today!

Click here to determine who your Representative is:  https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

You will need your zip + 4, which can be found at:  http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp.

Contact your Senator today!

Senator Christopher Dodd

Phone number: 202-224-2823

Contact form:  http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130

Senator Joseph Lieberman

Phone number: 202-224-4041

Contact form:  http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/

Sample phone message:

Hello, my name is _________ and I am from ____________.  I am calling to let Representative/Senator _________ know that the Connecticut legislature just passed prosthetic parity into law.  I am calling to urge Representative/Senator __________ to support HR 2575, the federal prosthetic and orthotic parity bill.   Thank you.

Sample email or letter for your House member:

Dear Representative_______________,

I am writing to let you know that the Connecticut legislature just passed HB 5021, a prosthetic parity bill into law.  This will require state regulated insurance companies to cover prosthetic care on par with Medicare standards.  There are now 18 states that have passed prosthetic parity legislation --- 7 just this year.

This legislation will ensure that there is a consistent standard of care for all amputees.  Many of the states that have been considering this legislation have conducted cost estimate studies on prosthetic parity legislation (13).  These studies have all found that the cost of providing prosthetic and orthotic care was very low in relation to the impact on the lives of the people with limb loss and the savings in long term medical costs.

Representatives Rob Andrews and George Miller introduced HR 2575 on May 21^st.   Please, support this important legislation by signing on as a co-sponsor.  If your office is interested, please contact [Andrews] Carlos Fenwick (Carlos.Fenwick@mail.house.gov).  Thank you.

Arms and legs are not a luxury and they should not be treated as such!

Sincerely,

NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE

Sample email or letter for your Senator:

Dear Senator ____________,

I am writing to let you know that the Connecticut legislature just passed HB 5021, a prosthetic parity bill into law.  This will require state regulated insurance companies to cover prosthetic care on par with Medicare standards.  There are now 18 states that have passed prosthetic parity legislation --- 7 just this year.

This legislation will ensure that there is a consistent standard of care for all amputees.  Many of the states that have been considering this legislation have conducted cost estimate studies on prosthetic parity legislation (13).  These studies have all found that the cost of providing prosthetic and orthotic care was very low in relation to the impact on the lives of the people with limb loss and the savings in long term medical costs.

Representatives Rob Andrews and George Miller introduced HR 2575 on May 21^st.   We are working with Senators Tom Harkin and Olympia Snowe to re-introduce the senate version.  Please, support this important legislation by signing on as a co-sponsor.  If your office is interested, please contact Jenelle Krishnamoorthy (Jenelle_Krishnamoorthy@harkin.senate.gov) or Scott Nolen (scott_nolen@snowe.senative.gov) today.  Thank you.

Arms and legs are not a luxury and they should not be treated as such!

Sincerely,

NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE