The Amputee Coalition applauds the bipartisan leadership of Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representatives G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02) for reintroducing the Access to Assistive Technology and Devices for Americans Study Act, known as the Triple A Study Act.
“On behalf of the 2.1 million Americans living with limb loss and limb difference and the 28 million more at risk of losing a limb, we thank Senators Duckworth and Blackburn and Representatives Butterfield and Guthrie for re-introducing the Triple A Study Act,” said Mary Richards, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “The Triple A Study Act will identify the best care practices for people living with limb loss or limb difference so those practices can be replicated across health systems to improve the health of our community.”
The problem is that two-thirds of Americans who experience limb loss or limb difference never receive a prosthetic device, but there is little analysis to explain why. The information that does exist is difficult to compare across providers.
The Triple A Study Act solves that problem by directing the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study barriers to care for assistive technologies, including prosthetic devices, and evaluate how those affect patient outcomes by comparing results across Medicare, the VA, and private insurers. It examines specific challenges, such as the affordability of devices, how often people are denied coverage, or if patients can return to work.
Our community is very excited about this bill. Its analysis will help improve care for millions of people living with limb loss and limb difference.
“The Triple A Study Act will improve care for Americans living with limb loss and limb difference,” said John “Mo” Kenney, Immediate Past Chair of the Amputee Coalition Board of Directors and owner of Kenney Orthopedics in Representative Guthrie’s district. “Limb loss isn’t a partisan issue,” Kenney continued. “We are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Butterfield and Guthrie who have crafted meaningful legislation that has broad bipartisan appeal. The limb loss and limb difference community looks forward to working with them to get this bill across the finish line.”
The Amputee Coalition is proud to work with Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representatives G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02) to move this important legislation forward.
Click here to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor this important legislation.
Rep. Butterfield Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Require Study on Coverage for Amputee Services:
https://butterfield.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/butterfield-introduces-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-require-study-on
Senators Blackburn, Duckworth Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Lives of People with Limb Loss:
https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2021/4/blackburn-duckworth-lead-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-lives-of-people-with-limb-loss
Senators Duckworth, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Bill Ensuring Accurate Data on Access to Prosthetics Following the Amputation of a Limb
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-blackburn-introduce-bipartisan-bill-ensuring-accurate-data-on-access-to-prosthetics-following-the-amputation-of-a-limb