The Amputee Coalition, Knoxville, Tenn, backs the passage of HB 5, introduced by Rep Joseph Gibbons (D-105) in the Florida House of Representatives, which would provide insurance coverage for Florida residents who need prosthetic limbs.

At least 15 other states are expected to introduce prosthetic parity laws in 2011, joining more than two-thirds of the states (19) that have passed similar laws.

The measure states that by July 1, 2011, HB 5 would: require “individual accident or health insurance policies, group, blanket, or franchise accident or health insurance policies, and health maintenance contracts to provide specified coverage for orthoses, prostheses, orthotics, & prosthetics benefits;” specify “deductible and copayment requirements;” authorize “insurers and HMOs to specify benefits limitations;” and provide “for nonapplication to specified policy and contract coverages.”

The Amputee Coalition cites the following statistics as evidence of the need for prosthetic parity legislation:

  • 2 million Americans are living with limb loss
  • 185,000 amputations are performed each year; which amounts to 500 limbs lost per day
  • Of these, 60% are preventable, primarily due to diabetes and vascular disease
  • Some 75% of acquired pediatric amputations are due to trauma; more than 600 children lose a limb to lawnmowers each year
  • Minorities are at a high risk for limb loss; African Americans are two to four times more likely to lose a lower limb than white persons of similar age and gender.

For more information on getting involved in the Florida prosthetic parity effort, contact William Moses, the Amputee Coalition’s lead advocate iin Florida, at [email protected].

[Source: Amputee Coalition]