Hearing held on bill to broaden prosthetic and orthotic coverage; patients urge access while insurers flag medical‑necessity language

The House Health Committee held a hearing on House Bill 87 on Wednesday. The bill would change how Georgia law and commercial insurers define medical necessity for orthotics and prosthetics so that coverage can consider individualized activities and goals — including showering, bathing, exercise and adaptive sports — and allow additional devices beyond the single device often authorized under current practice.

Representative David Clark, the sponsor, said HB 87 “aims to change the definition of medical necessity deemed by law for orthotics and prosthetics,” and described provisions intended to allow clinicians and licensed certified prosthetists/orthotists (CPOs) to evaluate an individual’s specific functional goals and prescribe devices to meet those goals.

Multiple people with limb loss, family members and clinicians gave personal testimony describing daily needs that current coverage does not consistently meet. Susie Barrett spoke about her son Elliot, born without a right…