5/5/2009
NAAOP Advances Veterans Bill of Rights and O&P Parity Legislation
NAAOP leaders met with key House members in April to advance major federal legislation for users of orthotics and prosthetics and the providers who serve them. Tom Guth, C.P., NAAOP President, took a lead role in advocating for both an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights as well as federal O&P parity legislation. The timing of these Capitol Hill visits could not have been better.
Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights: In the 110th Congress, NAAOP was successful in working with Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, to introduce legislation to create a “Bill of Rights” for veterans in need of O&P care. The bill, H.R. 5730, called for the development of a list of rights applicable to all veterans to be displayed at every VA O&P clinic across the country. The legislation enumerated the list, including the right to high quality O&P care, access to appropriate technology, consistent O&P care throughout the country, a right to a second opinion if particular componentry is denied, and the right to choose a private O&P practitioner, with or without a VA contract. This bill was the subject of a legislative hearing and was supported by over ten disability and veterans organizations. It was also supported by the VA, according to Fred Downs, Head of the VA’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids division at the VA, who testified at the legislative hearing.
Chairman Filner committed to Tom Guth, his constituent, to reintroduce this bill again in the 111th Congress and vowed to get it passed “this year.” The bill will be improved this year by adding a section on enforcement of these rights. The rights will not permit a veteran to sue the VA if there is a dispute. However, the bill will now state that the VA must visibly post the list of rights in an accessible location in every VA O&P clinic in the country and establish a dedicated toll-free phone number at the VA, supported by an ombudsperson, to field calls from veterans with complaints and work out any disagreements about access to O&P care. NAAOP will alert its members and the larger O&P field when the bill is introduced.
Federal O&P Parity Legislation: NAAOP also advocated for passage of the federal O&P parity legislation, bipartisan legislation to help ensure adequate private insurance coverage of orthotic and prosthetic services. The legislation is scheduled to be reintroduced formally in the 111th Congress soon. NAAOP joined in the efforts of many others, led by the Amputee Coalition of America, in supporting this legislation and urging its passage this year. The timing of this bill could not be better as all of Capitol Hill is intensely focused on the development of health care policies to reform the nation’s health care system. O&P care is one of those benefits that must be well understood if it is to be included in any type of basic benefits package under national health care reform. Federal O&P parity legislation provides a tremendous opportunity to educate Members of Congress and staff about the importance—and cost-effectiveness—of covering orthotic and prosthetic care.
