A Texas bill designed to ensure fair insurance coverage for artificial arms and legs and custom orthotic braces was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry. The bill will go into effect on September 1, 2009.
The bill, known as the Prosthetic Parity Act, requires insurers to provide “meaningful coverage” for prosthetic and orthotic devices and care by creating a consistent standard for these benefits. It removes special caps and exemptions placed on prosthetic and orthotic care that made these services cost prohibitive for many individuals.
“Unfortunately, many amputees have nightmarish stories of fighting with insurance companies to try to get the devices they need to simply work and live,” explained Kendra Calhoun, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA). “People pay their monthly health insurance premiums and expect their coverage to take care of catastrophic situations like losing a limb. This is the very reason people purchase health insurance.”
Texas House Bill (HB) 806 and Senate Bill (SB) 26 were introduced by Representative Pete Gallego and Senator Judith Zaffirini, respectively, with 14 co-sponsors. The bill was passed in the Texas House on April 2 by a vote of 105-35, with one member not voting. The Texas Senate passed the bill unanimously on April 30. The bill was sent to Governor Perry and was signed into law on May 13.
“Thanks to the leadership of the Texas legislature and Governor Perry, people with limb loss in Texas can now get the care they need to get back to work and live independent, productive lives,” said Morgan Sheets, the national advocacy director for the ACA. “Spread across the insurance pool, the cost of prosthetic care is less than a dollar per month. The cost to the healthcare system in the long run of not providing prosthetic care far exceeds that of providing it. Additionally, the lack of productivity caused by inadequate prosthetic care places a huge burden on society.”
Six states (Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia) have passed prosthetic parity legislation in 2009. They join the 11 other states (California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont) that had previously enacted laws.
The ACA is now working with activists throughout the country to advance similar state legislation. Additionally, the nonprofit organization is working to get a federal prosthetic-parity bill re-introduced in the 111th Congress.
Sheets said, “It’s a difficult battle. Insurance companies have a powerful voice, and the Amputee Coalition and our citizen lobbyists are like David taking on Goliath. Still, with the support of those like Governor Perry and the Texas state legislature, we believe that we can help win this victory for American families.”
