Governor Jay Nixon has Signed MO Prosthetic Parity Legislation HB 577

The bill was signed Monday, July 13, 2009.

Prosthetic Parity Passes MO General Assembly!

Prosthetic parity legislation passed the MO Senate Friday with ten minutes to go till 6:00pm. It passed the house earlier in the day as an amendment to HB 577, an insurance bill. Now all it needs is an almost certain signature by Governor Jay Nixon.

The parity law enjoyed a dramatic last few days. It had been attached to the enormous health care bill SB 306, which passed the House but died in the Senate. Then on Thursday, it was stripped from HB 577 before Rep. Maria Chapelle-Nadal argued for it to be put back in. Without her persistence, this legislation never would have made it. Finally, Missouri Coalition for People with Limb Loss lobbyist Kent Gaines was able to dissuade some opposition in the final moments so the bill could pass.

Prosthetic Parity Bill Update

The Prosthetic Parity Bill made it through the House last night as an amendment on SB 306. Now it must go back to the Senate for final approval. Please call or email your senator and ask him or her to support SB 306.

Passed!

The MO Prosthetic Parity Bill has been attached to another bill (SB 306) as an amendment and passed by the full Senate. On to the House now, where it has the support of insurance companies due to our compromise. The bill now calls for a mandated offer instead of mandated coverage, which means that insurance companies have to offer everyone plans that contain full prosthetic coverage without caps, but you could theoretically save $4 per year by opting out.

The Missouri Prosthetic Parity Bill (HB 616) passed out of the House Health Care Policy Committee unanimously (10-0) yesterday 4/1/09.

Prosthetic Parity Campaigns Sweep the Nation | March 2009 | The O&P EDGE | oandp.com

Prosthetic Parity Campaigns Sweep the Nation | March 2009 | The O&P EDGE | oandp.com

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Bill McLellan has invited you to MCPLL "All Things American" Trivia Night. Date: Mar 14, 2009 Time: 6:00 PM Location: The Lodge Des Peres Hi everyone, This is a new invitation since I could not figure out how to save the last one after I edited it. Please RSVP one last time if you already did, and please send this on to people you think may want to come. Thanks! View Invite

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Missouri Prosthetic Parity Bill Passes Senate Committee

This past Tuesday, 3/10/09, the Missouri Senate committee considering the Prosthetic Parity Bill voted unanimously (7-0) to pass it. Now it must be passed by the House committee and then by the full house and senate. Things are looking good for parity in Missouri!

House Hearing on Prosthetic Parity Moved to Wednesday, March 4

This is a follow-up to the earlier post regarding the hearings on the prosthetic parity bill. Our lobbyist, Kent Gaines informed me that the House Committee hearing has been moved to next Wednesday, March 4, at noon. The Senate hearing is Tuesday, March 3, at 8:15 am.

For more information on the Senate bill, please see:
http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=708463

For more information on the House bill, please see:
http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/hb616.htm

We do not have information yet on where the hearings will be held since the online hearing schedule does not yet reflect all of the hearings for next Tuesday and Wednesday.

We are looking for a strong presence at both of the hearings. Please contact Jean Freeman at 314-606-0442 or Jeff Damerall (314) 853-1910 if you are interested in attending.

Hearings for Prosthetic Parity in Jeff City March 3

Mark your calendars foe Tuesday, March 3. Our Lobbyist Kent has arranged hearings for us in front of senate and house committees. Hearing times are 8:30am and 12:00pm. If as many amputees as possible could come, that would be great. We need to pack the rooms, and some of us will be able to speak/testify to the lawmakers.

Article from deseretnews.com: Bill puts prosthetics on par with hip replacements

Bill McLellan (bmclellan@pandocare.com) thought you might be interested in reading the following story, which appeared on deseretnews.com on .

Do not reply to this messsage. To send a message to the sender, use the address here: bmclellan@pandocare.com.

BILL PUTS PROSTHETICS ON PAR WITH HIP REPLACEMENTS
A bill that would put prosthetics on par with hip replacements in medical insurance plans passed out of a legislative committee with one opposing vote, despite stiff opposition from some lawmakers and the insurance industry who regard HB89 as yet another mandate to a health-care system that is falling apart.
FULL STORY: http://deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C705286787%2C00.html

Our Prosthetic Parity Bill Assigned to Great Committees

The Missouri Prosthetic Parity Bill is HB 616 in the House and SB 320 in the Senate. It has been assigned to the House committee on Health Policy, chaired by our bill sponsor Rep. Dr. Wayne Cooper, a Republican from Camdenton. In the Senate, it has been assigned to the committee on Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families, chaired by Senator Norma Champion – R (Springfield). Last year we were assigned to the insurance committees, so this is a positive development. You can follow the progress of these bills by clicking on the links provided. If you live in Senator Champion's district around Springfield, MO, please call her and let her know of your support for SB 320. We expect to have hearings around the beginning of March--coming up quick--so please make plans to attend, especially if you are an amputee affected by insurance caps on your coverage.

E-mail-A-Friend: Maryland teenager urges legislators for insurance coverage for prosthetics

Story:
Maryland teenager urges legislators for insurance coverage for prosthetics

ANNAPOLIS - Lorenzo Smith never thought he'd be penalized for growing taller, but his HMO insurance plan, UnitedHealthcare, says he has to pay.

The 15-year-old was charged more than $20,000 for growing 5 inches in 4 years, and he dares to keep growing.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.ifawebnews.com/articles/2009/02/12/marylanddc/doc49940d5785a9f980978955.txt

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New MCPLL Pay Pal Donation Button

It’s never been easier to support working amputees by donating to the Missouri Coalition for People with Limb Loss. In addition to the contributions that have come from prosthetic companies all over the Show Me State, we need every prosthetist and other concerned individuals to join the fight against the injustice that is keeping our patients down.

Times are tough for everyone right now, but every little bit counts! We know that we can get a prosthetic parity law passed in Missouri this year. Making your individual contribution is this simple: simply click on the “Support Prosthetic Parity” button below, and follow the instructions to pay with Pay Pal or any major credit card. Then check http://molimbloss.blogspot.com to see who else has contributed. Your name will show up there soon!

Share this page with your friends! We need your help educating and persuading all the new and returning representatives and senators in Jeff City that prosthetic parity makes good health care policy for working families and the entire State of Missouri during these financially troubled times.

Thanks to all those individuals who have made contributions so far!

Dan and Julie Luitjohan, Greg Doerr, Richard Haws, Richard Thiele, Rudy and Mary Kay Stecich, Kimberly and Donald Adkins, Joe Curotto, Fred and Pat Sexauer, Stephen and Angela Mestres, Dennis and Melinda Richards, Michael and Lucy Hey, Fred and Karen Vaught, Tonya Tebbe, Bill and Amy McLellan, Emily Zdenek, Marlene H. Mestres, Marlene M. Mestres, Tim Mestres, Richard Schumacher, John Rocky Reitmeyer, Fred Whiteford, Bill and Sue Brannan, Dixon and Barbara Smith, Walter and Carol Burkart, Shirley Luebbers, Paul Wunderlich, George and Denise Huber, Claire Willman, James and Barb Freeman, Maurice Graham, Todd Hilliker, Angela and John Gantzer, Robert and Margaret Beck, Ronald and Christine Roche, Dana and Sue Hockensmith, Dennis and Jo Ann Martin . . .

Northwest Kansas Diabetes Support Group : Prosthetic Parity in Kansas

Bill McLellan has sent you a link to a blog:

Advocates for prosthetic parity in Kansas are taking a different approach than Missouri and some other states. Instead of trying to change the law, they are trying to get the State's insurance board to change it's rules. For them, this requires 10,000 signatures on their petition.

Blog: Northwest Kansas Diabetes Support Group
Post: Prosthetic Parity in Kansas
Link: http://nwksdiabetes.blogspot.com/2008/10/prosthetic-parity-in-kansas.html

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STLtoday - Pinning blame on patients for costs won't lead to

Doug Ervine, Republican State Rep for the Health Insurance industry here in the great state of MO, thinks that people would take better care of themselves if they had to pay out of pocket more. Mary Jo Feldstein thinks otherwise.

read more | digg story

Now, Donate with PayPal

Whether you are a Missouri amputee, physician, rehab therapist, prosthetists, family member, or anyone else concerned that insurance companies cover prosthetics, you can support the cause for parity just by clicking the button below or in the column on the right. PayPal is an incredibly safe and easy way to pay online. You can set up an account or use your credit card. All proceeds go toward getting a prosthetic parity law passed in Missouri in 2009.

NPR.org - Mental Health Parity Approved With Bailout Bill : NPR

Bill McLellan thought you would be interested in this story: Mental Health Parity Approved With Bailout Bill : NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95435676&sc=emaf

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