We are urging all members of APOA
to write a letter similar to the one shown here and to fax it to Representative Davis at 202-226-9567 as soon as possible.
Representative Artur Davis
U.S.
House of Representatives
208 Cannon House Office Building
Washington,
DC 20015
VIA FAX TO: 202-226-9567
Dear Rep. Davis:
People in the field of limb loss
and impairment—both patients and companies like ours that provide care to these patients—have our attention focused
on Washington, DC these days. Last week, on March 10, approximately 200 members of the Amputee Coalition of America,
representing 34 states, converged on Capitol Hill to raise their concerns. The
next event on the calendar is April 23, just about a month from now, when a large contingent of members of the American Orthotic
and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) will be on Capitol Hill.
I am writing you because next month
we want to make the major focal point of our legislative visits to be enactment of the “Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics
Improvements Act,” the bill that Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) introduced and you were good enough to serve as an original
co-sponsor (H.R.6878 in the 110th Congress).
We want to strongly encourage
you to please renew your support for prompt introduction of this bill, in a very slightly modified form, into the 111th
Congress. The bill is even more important, now that President Obama has placed
health care reform front and center in the Congressional agenda. H.R. 6878 protects
patients and saves Medicare money. By assuring the Medicare observes solid accreditation
requirements to assure the quality of those who treat beneficiaries, that Medicare doesn’t pay providers who are operating
in violation of state licensure acts, and by linking the complexity of the patient’s needs with the qualifications of
providers, bad actors who may try to bilk patients and the Medicare system will be excluded.
Preliminary CBO type scoring estimates project that enactment of this measure could save Medicare around $250 million
per year.
Thanks for your leadership on this issue
in the 110th Congress, and please know we are counting on you to carry on the fight in the 111th Congress. You have earned the respect and appreciation of every member of the Alabama O&P
Association. Please let us know if we can answer any questions to expedite moving
this bill forward in the next couple of weeks before our visits next month.
Very truly yours,
(YOUR NAME AND CREDENTIALS HERE)
