I applaud the efforts of the ACA to get Parity legislation passed at the fed=
eral level, they are doing an admirable job of looking out for the populatio=
n they serve. As an orthotist, I am troubled that the federal legislative ef=
forts do not include orthotics=C2=A0as well as prosthetics. I’ve listened to=
the arguments=C2=A0that try to sell me on the idea that prosthetic coverage=
is an easier=C2=A0concept=C2=A0to approach legislators with and the statist=
ics exist to make=C2=A0a strong case=C2=A0to mandate coverage for prosthetic=
s. The underlying strategy being to get coverage for prosthetics now and go=20=
after orthotics later. It seems like later never comes in these matters. I h=
eard the same logic when our national organizations lobbied hard (and succes=
sfully)to get exclusions for certain prosthetic devices for Part A SNF resid=
ents, and that we would go after orthotics “later”. Later never came.=20
I am hopeful=C2=A0the leaders in the Alliance will=C2=A0demand that orthotic=
s be included in federal legislative efforts=C2=A0in order to=C2=A0gain our=20=
support. Remember, all of our organizations include in their =C2=A0title Ort=
hotics AND Prosthetics. If this issue is important to you let your leadershi=
p know.
=C2=A0
Thanks,
Steve Williams C.O.
Williams Orthotic Services
Flint, MI
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! – http://webmail.=
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