The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is promoting equality in medical care with the Prosthetic Parity Law State Organizer's Kit, the organization announced recently. After identifying access to care as the single most important concern among people with limb loss, ACA has given priority to its Access to Care initiative--an initiative that closely allies ACA with advocacy or action groups seeking to attain new legislative mandates that will secure appropriate levels of insurance coverage for rehabilitative care, prostheses, and prosthetic repair. Leslie Duncan, MLS, manager of government relations, stated, "The idea is to encourage these grassroots organizations by showing our support and offering them information and instruction on how to rally the support needed to effect change, how to conduct effective fundraising, and how to contact elected officials." The ACA's Prosthetic Parity Law State Organizer's Kit is now available for download in PDF format at www.amputee-coalition.org/aca_advocacy_ppltoolkit.html. "The importance of this mission cannot be understated," continued Duncan, "because looming financial pressures in some state governments have already resulted in drastic reductions of healthcare spending." These cuts directly affect people with limb loss by placing restrictions on the amounts available for Medicaid programs, thus imposing limits on appropriate and essential rehabilitative care, ACA pointed out. The organization says that similarly, private insurance companies are placing limits and, in some cases, completely excluding access to essential assistive technologies that offer those with limb loss the opportunity to lead active, healthy, and productive lives. Removing these barriers is the essence of the organization's mission, the ACA said. ACA is claiming to have taken the lead, but is also asking the O&P industry to help accomplish this goal. For more information, visit www.amputee-coalition.org/aca_advocacy.html or contact an ACA information specialist at 800.267.5669.
