The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is launching a national event to build support for the Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008 (HR 5615). From Saturday, April 26 through Friday, May 2, amputees, prosthetic facilities, and other supporters are organizing events across the country to support the federal campaign for amputee care.
According to the ACA, activists are organizing postcard drives and holding lobby meetings in congress members' district offices. Some are even holding house parties and bake sales to speak out against the need for amputees who have health insurance to hold fundraisers to pay for their prostheses.
Authored by Representative Rob Andrews (D-NJ), HR 5615 provides insurance parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and components. Representatives George Miller (D-CA), Todd Platts (R-PA), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) signed on as original co-sponsors.
"The federal parity bill will ensure that the tragedy of children living without a limb is not compounded by forcing them to spend the rest of their childhood in a wheelchair when help is readily available," said Paddy Rossbach, president and CEO of the ACA.
The week of action will include events in Tacoma, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Tempe, Arizona; and Salisbury, Connecticut, to name a few.
