At bottom of the page, there is a recent e-mail message,condensed to = comply with the maximum wordage allowed by OANDP-L, from ACA President = Paddy Rossbach that was sent to some of the growing list of advocacy = supporters subscribed to the Amputee Listserve and O&P listserve. =20 Since I was mentioned in the content of that message, I thought I would = share her comments but first add my own thoughts below regarding the = issue and the urgent need of encouraging ACA to advocate on our behalf.
As is reflected on ACA’s advocacy website, = www.amputee-coalition.org/aca_advocacy.htm a newly formed ACA Public = Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC) will identify these public policies = and that committee will be comprised of a sub-set of members of the = Board of Directors and senior ACA staff and determine positions and = direct staff to carry-out actions.
As amputees and O&P professionals, we are the victims of reduced or non = existent coverage and often sadly witness the delivery of substandard = O&P healthcare services by a generally unregulated profession on a far = to often basis.=20
Advocacy, by definition means to support, encourage, back, sponsor or = promote on behalf of something or someone.
We hope those “somethings” will include supporting promoting the = establishment of the highest standards possible for quality and = affordable prosthetic health care services, to state and federal = government agencies and professional associations. We hope those “someones” will be for consumers and professionals, to = encourage and support affordable and quality prosthetic health care = services.
We are encouraged by ACA’s new commitment and recognition that = “advocacy is a area that requires more attention”. We look forward to this national organization to establish public policy = positions in areas of identified advocacy. They have also established a Grassroots Committee whom will work with = the PPAC to develop target grassroots efforts around key ACA advocacy = priorities.
ACA’s new found role of activating their willingness to support, = identify and address support of priority advocacy issues to a variety of = individuals, professional and governmental agencies, is certainly timely = and welcomed.
Timely, because even if you, as an amputee, are fortunate enough to have = current and ample prosthetic coverage now, the growing trend of reducing = and eliminating coverages for comprehensive prosthetic services is on = the rise, as is the cost replacement components and supplies. The average life span of a a/k or b/k basic prosthesis is less than = three years for an active indivisual and can cost anywhere between = $8,000-$40,000 !=20 If you are 30 years old you may require 15 to 2O more prostheses if you = are fortunate enough to reach the national average lifespan ! That = equates to the possibility of a individual’s or third party payer’s cost = of $120,000 to $800,000 without regard to future inflation and price = increases ! One of the major reasons insurers limit or avoid providing = any prosthetic insurance coverage is because the providers are for the = most part unregulated and the cost of providing these services, = particularly components are costly and the frequency of replacement = remains so high.
Timely, because there are an growing number of 300-400 new amputees = entering the market place each day in this country alone and whom will = be requiring proper and affordable initial and follow-up prosthetic = care.=20 Now add to that number the estimate of 2 million US amputees that exist = today and whom require periodic replacement or repairs!
Welcomed, because the profession of O&P is generally unregulated in this = country and there is growing national trend to lower the educational and = qualification standards for providers of these comprehensive health care = services.This is seriously being proposed to allegedly increase the = supply of providers to meet the increased demand, without regard to the = qualifications of those providers!!!=20 This would also include the current proposal of establishing federal = policy of competitive bidding for reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid = O&P services.=20
As the major national consumer advocacy organization fro amputees, we = respectively urge that ACA request a seat at the Negotiated Rules = Committee Hearings to be held in the near future and whom will determine = future qualifications of providers.
ACA has correctly recognized the past efforts and hard work, dedication = and drive of many individuals and groups within and outside ACA itself. = Their recent recognition of adopting a increased advocacy role opens the = door for both consumers, ACA members or not, and professionals of these = healthcare services, ACA members or not, to identify your greatest = concerns.
I suggest, while that door remains open to members and non members, you = direct your comments to the AMPUTEE LISTSERVE if you are a consumer of = these services and the OANDP-LISTSERVE if you are a provider of these = services.
Perhaps ACA, particularly the committee members of the newly formed = PPRC, would consider subscribing to these invaluable listserves for a = real opportunity to “reach out” and have open dialogue and discussion = of these issues with the people that are most effected and with the = people they allegedly represent, before the July meeting in Anaheim. We’ve got over 4 months before then to identify and address alot of the = issues for formal support before the Advocacy workshops!!
I have identified some of my own personal concerns and leading issues = above. How about we hear from you? ACA would also like to hear from both groups by responding to = www.amputee-coalition.org and completing their public policy online = survey.
Thank You,
Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr=20
—– Original Message —–=20
From: “Paddy Rossbach”
Subject: Fw: RE: rec’d from ACA
>=20
> > > “Your name has come to our attention because you responded
> > > positively to Tony Barr’s request for volunteers for an advocacy
> > > workshop. Although Mr.
> > > Barr’s action was
> > > enthusiastic, it was not in response to any ACA
> > > request, nor is it
> > > sanctioned by the ACA.
> > >
> > > Recognizing that advocacy is an area that needs more attention,
> > > the ACA has been actively and responsibly identifying and
> > > pursuing advocacy issues for
> > > some time now. Last
> > > summer, a committee under the leadership of ACA
> > > board member, Brad Ruhl,
> > > developed a proposal for increased ACA advocacy, and
> > > the board of directors
> > > adopted that
> > > proposal in September 2001. We are now in the
> > > process of implementing the
> > > increased advocacy efforts:
> > > Paddy Rossbach, RN
> > > President & CEO
> > > Amputee Coalition of America”
=20
