March 2009

Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. recently hosted visits from both Pennsylvania State Senator Richard Alloway II (R) of the 33rd District of York, Adams and Franklin Counties and State Representative Dan Moul (R) of the 91st District of Adams and Franklin Counties.

Ability’s Jeffrey M. Brandt, CPO, CEO & Founder, and Clayton Barrow, CO & COO, provided the legislators with a tour of both the patient care center and corporate headquarters. The legislators were provided with an overview of the prosthetics & orthotics industry, the affect of the current economic climate on a rapidly growing regional business, as well as prosthetics and orthotics licensure and parity legislation in Pennsylvania.

“This is a critical time for our industry,” explains Brandt, “We not only have an opportunity to sanctify what we do through licensure but to mandate more equality or parity from third party payers regarding amputee benefits and reimbursement fee schedules.”

“When an able-bodied person pays premiums every month and then is suddenly stricken with the loss of a limb,” says Barrow, “The patient turns to his insurance company only to find he have a LIFETIME maximum prosthetic benefit of $2,000. That will not even purchase a foot, let a lone an entire prosthetic limb every 3-5 years of the person’s remaining life. That is why our legislators are here visiting. Consistent with Ability’s mission, we are creating awareness and education around the topics that affect our patients, our community and our business.”

The visits capped off what has been a politically active month for Ability. Becky Rogers, Orthotist/Prosthetist from Ability, accompanied patient and advocate Jennifer Rosenberry of Chambersburg, Pa to meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. through participation in a national Parity Action Day sponsored by the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA). Becky and Jennifer met with Senators Bob Casey, Jr. (D), Arlen Spector (R) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as with United States Representative Todd Platts (R) of the 19th Pennsylvania Congressional District. Platts, a co-sponsor on the federal parity bill, visited Ability and met with Jennifer Rosenberry last summer.