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Advocates urge coverage for active prosthetics and orthotics; insurers largely neutral or concerned about language
Summary
At a public hearing, supporters of Senate Bill 699 urged insurers to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices used for physical activity and sports, citing health and functional benefits; some insurers signaled neutrality after amendments while Moda Health expressed wording concerns.
The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care held a public hearing May 8 on Senate Bill 699, a measure that would expand insurance coverage for medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices, including devices that enable physical activity and exercise.
Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a physician and sponsor, told the committee the bill would extend coverage beyond devices that enable activities of daily living to those "which are needed to perform kind of exertional physical activities in service of whole body health." She said devices would still require a determination of medical necessity by the patient’s health care provider.
Representative Hai Pham described the bill as reducing financial barriers to activity-specific devices and said some active prosthetics can cost "upwards of $15,000 out of pocket." Testimony from multiple amputees…
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