|
September, 2006 AST Newsletter
AST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit limb loss support group.
AST Chapters also in Lancaster and York
www.amputeesupportteam.com
“So others may benefit from us.”
Please visit our WEB Site (see above), kept updated by AST
Director & WEB Master John Williamson.
September Elections: Based on our AST By-Laws, three AST
members are up for either re-election, or replacement. They
are: Richard Nickle, President, and Board Members: Gary Reinhold,
and Tom O’Neil. See a voting Ballot on the last page
of this Newsletter, complete it, and either mail it, or bring
it to the AST Meeting on, Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 6:30
PM, which is the deadline for Ballots.
Kevin Carroll comes to town: Kevin Carroll, HANGER”S
Vice President of Prosthetics, visited HANGER’s Harrisburg
O&P Office on Wednesday, August 2, doing forty prosthetic
evaluations, and the next day, going to HANGER’S York
Office to do more prosthetic evaluations. Thank you to John
Williamson, of HANGER and AST for providing refreshments.
 Sean Bream,
shown left, was the youngest AST Members who took advantage
of getting an evaluation from Kevin Carroll, who many refer
to as the “Guru of Prosthetics.” This was something
of a reunion for Sean and Kevin, as their paths have crossed
before.
View a video about our youngest AST member, Sean Brame, pictured
above, you will be even more inspired. Turn up your sound
and click on the following address: mms://video1.hmc.psu.edu/cmn/seanbramevideo.wmv
AST Meeting, Wednesday, September 20, 6:30 PM at HealthSouth
in Mechanicsburg: Besides the annual election, the main focus
of the meeting September 20 is Prosthetic Insurance PARITY
in Pennsylvania. NOTE: If you have, or had, issues with your
insurance in regard to coverage of your Prosthetic, and prosthetic
care, let us know at AST ASAP.
To date, the AST has done the following things in regard
to Prosthetic PARITY in Pennsylvania:
The AST recognizes what is at stake if insurance companies
are allowed to continue to reduce coverage for prosthetics.
This hurts people with limb loss and the companies that provide
prosthetics. Payment caps and coverage reductions affect our
ability to lead productive lives. They also impact prosthetic
companies’ ability to provide the most appropriate device
for each individual and put advanced technology out of reach
for most consumers. .
In Colorado, support groups successfully supported their
legislators in passing legislation requiring insurance companies
in Colorado to cover prosthetics. The AST has worked to support
this legislation throughout the process.
2. With the leadership of Nick Antonini and the ACA, House
Bill 2718 was introduced on June 5th. It is presently in the
Health and Human Services Committee.
If passed into law in Pennsylvania, HB 2718 will ensure that
people receive the care they need to recover and live productive
and comfortable lives.
3. The AST held an advertised area wide meeting, one of only
four in Pennsylvania, on this
Subject, on Thursday, June 1, 2006. We invited Morgan Sheets,
the ACA’s National Advocacy Director to speak to learn
about HB 2718 and what they can do as individuals to let their
legislators know that they support this important bill.
Morgan Sheets, a dynamic speaker, is shown her between Peter
Calcagno, AST Director and Committee Co-Chairman, and Georgia
Foltz, AST Co-Vice President, and both are Peer Visitors.
A Letter Writing Campaign was instituted and encouraged among
our AST Member, who will most likely be the ones who suffer
if the insurance companies have their way, and anyone else
interested in our limb loss population, to support the passage
of HB 2718. It is interesting to note that one of our newest
limb loss members
was faced with an insurance cap on his very first prosthetic
leg, which cost over a thousand dollars more than what the
insurance company would allow. The leg in question was low
tech and a very basic beginning prosthetic leg. This demonstrates
the importance for continue action by the AST.
(NOTE: AST appreciates Morgan Sheets’ input in this section
about Prosthetic Parity)
Presently, while the Pennsylvania Legislature is in recess,
the AST was a part of one of several state wide tele-conferencing
sessions focused on interim activities to support the bill.
We are currently participating in a statewide drive to submit
and publish letters to the editor in support of HB 2718.
We are looking at a possible committee hearing in the fall.
If we are not able to get a hearing, the bill will be reintroduced
in the House of Representative in January of 2007.
Meanwhile, we need to be writing letters in order to keep
the momentum going behind this important bill. A sample letter
is at the end of this Newsletter.
We also encourage all AST members and supporters to help
spread the word. We are working with the ACA to collect petition
signatures in support of the bill. All petitions will be sent
to the ACA’s advocacy office. They will send copies of
the petitions to the committee members after they return from
the summer recess. They will also keep all of the signers
informed.
NOTE: A petition is attached. It has 10 lines --- that means
if you sign it you only have to find nine people to talk to
about this important effort. Then you can just fax or mail
it into the ACA and you have helped to educate others, build
the list of supporters and advocate for the bill.
Our Spanish speaking connection: Don Hossler made a good
suggestion that the AST connect with the Spanish Center located
on 13th Street in Harrisburg. AST requested the ACA send Spanish
and English versions of ACA materials, like the recent Spanish
edition of ACA’s First Step Magazine, to the Latino Organization
in center city Harrisburg. Richard Nickle, AST President,
sent a letter to the Latino Center offering, along with Don
Hossler, AST VP, both of us visit the Center when the ACA
materials arrive to discuss AST and further outreach.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Purpose
The purpose of your letter is to respond negatively or positively
to an article or editorial that a newspaper, journal or magazine
has printed on an issue important to you.
Uses
Write letters that respond to news coverage that is erroneous
or different from your position. You can also use letters
to express public support for a piece of legislation or local
program.
-Don’t expect your letters to be printed every time.
Format
The most important issue should be in the first paragraph.
State your case, add the facts or your personal story and
wrap-up by re-stating the case. It is also good to include
an action such as calling to support a bill or attending an
event.
If your letter responds to an article or editorial printed
in that paper, reference the title, date, and author of the
original piece in the opening sentence.
Keep it short. Should be between 100-400 words, but the shorter
it is, the more likely it is to be printed.
Many newspapers have strict limits on the length of letters
and have limited space to publish them. You may want to check
on the word limit before you submit the letter.
Make it legible. Your letter doesn't have to be fancy, but
you should use a typewriter or computer word processor if
your handwriting is difficult to read.
Send letters to weekly community newspapers too. The smaller
the newspaper's circulation, the easier it is to get your
letter printed.
Be sure to include your contact information. Many newspapers
will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author
to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will
not give out that information, and will usually only print
your name and city should your letter be published.
Connect your letter to a local issue, person or recent article.
There are many articles about legislators working on health
care reform, about local soldiers coming home from combat
and about the general push for access to care in this country.
Reference a recent article and connect it to your issue. That
makes it seem local and relevant to their readers.
Sample LETTER to the EDITOR letter on next page:
Dear Editor,
Over 1.8 million Americans are living with limb loss or limb
deficiency as a result of disease, trauma or birth defect.
In return for premiums paid for group health insurance, consumers
expect to be covered for catastrophic illness or injury. Sadly,
without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living
with the loss or absence of a limb are facing discouraging
obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care.
That is why Rep. Bernie O’Neil introduced HB 2718, a
bill to require prosthetic coverage. The bill already has
over 30 co-sponsors and the strong support of people throughout
the state of Pennsylvania.
The biggest concern anybody has about passing a new mandate
is cost. People fear that increasing the cost of insurance
will reduce access to health care, but the data has shown
that prosthetic parity actually results in a savings in medical
costs.
The provision of prostheses results in a variety of benefits,
some of which are fiscal in nature; some of which are more
related to quality of life issues such as a reduction in the
secondary conditions caused by a sedentary lifestyle and the
ability to lead productive lives.
The financial and social benefits provide a strong case for
coverage. HB 2718 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Health
& Human Services Committee. I urge people to contact their
legislators to push for a hearing on this important bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name, Address, Phone, E-mail
Send letters also to our legislatures, in particular, members
of the Health and Humans Services Committee shown below, which
sponsored HB 2718:
Health and Human Services
(Top of Document)
Majority (Room 108 ROB)
Kenney, Jr., George T., Chairman
True, Katie , Secretary
Benninghoff, Kerry A., Subcommittee Chairman on Human Services
Mackereth, Beverly , Subcommittee Chairman on Drugs and Alcohol
McIlhattan, Fred , Subcommittee Chairman on Health
Cornell, Susan E.
Diven, Michael
Fichter, John W.
Fleagle, Patrick Elvin
Gingrich, Mauree A.
Harhart, Julie
Maitland, Stephen R.
Reichley, Douglas G.
Ross, Chris
Sonney, Curtis G.
Watson, Katharine M.
Minority (Room 34 EW)
Oliver, Frank L., Chairman
Myers, John , Secretary
Bebko-Jones, Linda , Subcommittee Chairman on Drugs and Alcohol
Bishop, Louise Williams, Subcommittee Chairman on Human Services
Wheatley, Jr., Jake , Subcommittee Chairman on Health
Eachus, Todd A.
James, Harold
Kirkland, Thaddeus
Kotik, Nick
Lederer, Marie A.
Manderino, Kathy M.
Waters, Ronald G.
Here are a few addresses to get you started:
Hon. George T. Kenney, Jr. Room 108
Ryan Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 787-4810
Hon. Frank L. Oliver
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 783-0684
Hon. Douglas G. Reichley
5 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-1000
Hon. Todd A. Eachus
Room 105 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Marie A. Lederer
226 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Fred McIlhattan
East Wing, Room 18
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 783-8631
Hon. Katie True
143A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Chris Ross
Room B13 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Harold James
107 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Kathy M. Manderino
103A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Susan E. Cornell
34 S. York Road
Hatboro, PA 19040
Fax: (215) 674-3021
Hon. John Myers
305 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 772-4038
Hon. Curtis G. Sonney
149B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Thaddeus Kirkland
320 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Ronald G. Waters
103 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Stephen R. Maitland
400 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 772-5499
Hon. Beverly Mackereth
52B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Fax: (717) 772-9869
Hon. Katharine M. Watson
159A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Nick Kotik
28B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Hon. Linda Bebko-Jones
Room 113
Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Sample Prosthetic Parity Letter to a Legislator:
Dear Representative ____,
I am writing in response to HB 2718, a bill for prosthetic
coverage.
Without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living
with the loss or
absence of a limb are facing discouraging obstacles when trying
to obtain
prosthetic care. That is why this bill is so important!
Obviously, the biggest concern anybody has about passing
a new mandate is cost. People fear that big jumps in the cost
of insurance will reduce access to health care. None of us
want to see health insurance costs pushed beyond the reach
of the average consumer. Our best financial data comes from
Colorado. They were the first state to pass prostheticparity
legislation in 1998.
A Department of Health Care Policy & Financing report
found that the maximum increase in premiums for prosthetic
provision would be about 12 cents per month. That is less
than $1.50 per year. That is not going to push anyone off
the insurance rolls or put anyone out of business. It will,
however, get people the care they need to get back to work
and live independent, productive lives.
I am writing to urge the Health & Human Services committee
to hold a public hearing for HB 2718 in order to allow you
the opportunity to hear from Pennsylvanians about this important
bill.
Sincerely,
Name, Address, Phone
-------------------- cut here on dotted line------------------
AST 2006 VOTING BALLOT:
Three AST Officers are slated for re-election or replacement
this year, 2006, they are: Richard Nickle, President; and
Board Members: Chad Kettler; and Tom O’Neil.
You may vote to retain all three, or vote only for the ones
you want to retain. You may also write-in a vote, but may
only vote for a total of three persons, including a write-in:
You may either bring your completed Ballot to the AST Meeting
on Thursday, September 20, or mail it to Don Hossler at, deadline
is September 20, 2006:
Don Hosler
501 Vine Street
Middletown, PA 17057
-------------------- cut here on dotted line------------------
AST Meeting, Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 PM:
Part I: Andrew Lipman, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation,
Presenter: How can OVR help if your disability presents a
substantial impediment to employment, and living a productive
life.
Part II: Chad Kettler, HealthSouth, Presenter: Watch yourself
on video walk, turn, and have your gait evaluated, with suggestions
on how to improve your walking wearing a prosthesis
|
