New Congress - The Reconstructive Surgery Act

JANUARY 2009 - PLEASE NOTE: The Reconstructive Surgery Act must be re-introduced with the new session of Congress. Please sign the petition, an ongoing project of AICA. Check the website for updates and the new bill number when it becomes available.

Visit AmeriFace and cleftAdvocate for information about cleft/craniofacial conditions and acquired facial differences. Support is available!

On-Line Petition - 10,000 Signature Goal!

Don't have time to send a letter? Sign our on-line petition and forward this link!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/craniofacial

HR2820 National Call Day - Join Us!

Wednesday, September 26th is National Call Day in support of HR2820, the Reconstructive Surgery Act of 2007!

We are asking everyone with a telephone to call their US Representative in support of HR2820 on Wednesday, September 26th. Many times insurance companies and HMOs label craniofacial care as “cosmetic” or “dental” in nature and deny coverage for these or other reasons. HR2820 requires insurance companies and HMOs to pay for medically-necessary care for patients of all ages.

Please make a call and ask family and friends to join this effort, as well.

** On Monday and Tuesday, September 24th and 25th contact CCA at (800) 535-3643 to get your US Representative’s phone number, or look it up by using your zip code on this website (see the Capitol Hill graphic in the right-hand column).

** Call your Congressman between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, September 26th.

** Be sure to mention that you are calling from the Representative’s district. Please tell them your hometown.

** Ask the Congressman to support the Reconstructive Surgery Act of 2007 by co-sponsoring HR2820, legislation requiring insurance companies and HMOs to cover medically-necessary craniofacial treatment.

** Finally, emphasize that many people in your state are counting on his/her support on this issue.

Thank you for your continued support!

On-Line Petition - 10,000 Signature Goal!

Don't have time to send a letter? Sign our on-line petition and forward this link!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/craniofacial

Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820)Sample Letter to Representative

Modify the sections in BOLD to personalize this sample letter.

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Your Phone

Date

(Representative __________)
Address (House Building)
Washington DC (Zip)

Dear (Representative):

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor The Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820), introduced by Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by cleft/craniofacial patients like (me or family member) are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.

I (or My son/daughter) was born with (anomaly) on (birthdate). (Add a short paragraph about your journey so far and why this legislation is important to you.)

There has been much documentation of families and individuals having to fight to receive the medically-necessary treatment and reconstructive surgery needed to live a normal life.

(Only if applicable, add) I am glad that I live in (your state). Insurance companies and HMOs here have to approve treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities under (your state law); however, the coverage stops at age (note age from your state legislation, if applicable) and of course, self-insured plans are not subject to the mandate as they are protected under ERISA.

I encourage you to research and cosponsor HR2820. This legislation is designed to protect citizens from discrimination in health care. The need for this initiative is far greater than you may think.

I look forward to hearing from you or your health care legislative aide, and to seeing your name on the list of co-sponsors of HR2820.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820)Press Release

Legislation Introduced In Congress To Guarantee
Insurance Coverage for Reconstructive Medical Care

Washington, DC; June 21, 2007-- Representative Mike Ross of Arkansas today introduced legislation to guarantee insurance coverage for craniofacial patients. This legislation, HR 2820, was proposed because insurance companies will sometime label needed reconstructive care as “cosmetic” and deny coverage for this or other reasons. The Reconstructive Surgery Act of 2007 seeks to guarantee that insurance companies cover medically necessary care.

Approximately 100,000 children are born each year with some degree of craniofacial disfigurement. In addition both children and adults can develop such conditions through trauma and disease.

The American Medical Association has developed clear and simple guidelines regarding the differences between cosmetic and reconstructive. The legislation proposed by Congressman Ross incorporates the AMA definitions. The legislation also is virtually identical to the language in federal law requiring coverage for reconstruction after mastectomies.

Anecdotal experience indicates that when this denial of coverage is challenged legally, the insurers generally settle and pay for coverage. But because of financial burdens associated with the craniofacial conditions, many families are unable to afford such representation. The result has been patients either going without surgeries and other treatments or incurring a significant financial obligation.

Legislation has been passed in at least 16 states that to some degree require insurers to cover reconstructive surgeries. No evidence has been presented that this has resulted in significant premium increases.

For additional information on craniofacial conditions, please visit the AmeriFace website at http://www.ameriface.org or the cleftAdvocate website at www.cleftadvocate.org.

CONTACT: Debbie Oliver at debbie@ameriface.org or (888) 486-1209.

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Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2007 (HR1655) - Sample Letter to Representative

Modify the sections in BOLD to personalize this sample letter.

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Your Phone

Date

(Representative __________)
Address (House Building)
Washington DC (Zip)

Dear (Representative):

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2007 (HR1655), introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by cleft/craniofacial patients like (me or family member) are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.

I (or My son/daughter) was born with (anomaly) on (birthdate). (Add a short paragraph about your journey so far and why this legislation is important to you.)

There has been much documentation of families and individuals having to fight to receive the medically-necessary treatment and reconstructive surgery needed to live a normal life.

(If applicable, add) I am glad that I live in (your state). Insurance companies and HMOs here have to approve treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities under (your state law); however, the coverage stops at age (note age from your state legislation, if applicable) and of course, self-insured plans are not subject to the mandate as they are protected under ERISA.

One change that would make HR1655 even better would be to amend the bill to lift the age restriction. Treatment and surgery can go on well into adulthood. A craniofacial anomaly does not disappear when a person turns 22 years of age. However, if passed as written, HR1655 will still make a huge difference in so many lives.

I encourage you to research and cosponsor HR1655. This legislation is designed to protect citizens from discrimination in health care. The need for this initiative is far greater than you may think.

I look forward to hearing from you or your health care legislative aide, and to seeing your name on the list of co-sponsors of HR1655.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2007 (S1588) - Sample Letter to Senator

Modify the sections in BOLD to personalize this sample letter.

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Your Phone

Date

(Senator __________)
Address (Senate Building)
Washington DC (Zip)

Dear (Senator):

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2007 (S1588), introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by cleft/craniofacial patients like (me or family member) are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.

I (or My son/daughter) was born with (anomaly) on (birthdate). (Add a short paragraph about your journey so far and why this legislation is important to you.)

There has been much documentation of families and individuals having to fight to receive the medically-necessary treatment and reconstructive surgery needed to live a normal life.

(If applicable, add) I am glad that I live in (your state). Insurance companies and HMOs here have to approve treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities under (your state law); however, the coverage stops at age (note age from your state legislation, if applicable) and of course, self-insured plans are not subject to the mandate as they are protected under ERISA.

One change that would make S1588 even better would be to amend the bill to lift the age restriction. Treatment and surgery can go on well into adulthood. A craniofacial anomaly does not disappear when a person turns 22 years of age. However, if passed as written, S1588 will still make a huge difference in so many lives.

I encourage you to research and cosponsor S1588. This legislation is designed to protect citizens from discrimination in health care. The need for this initiative is far greater than you may think.

I look forward to hearing from you or your health care legislative aide, and to seeing your name on the list of co-sponsors of S1588.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

What You Can Do

The goal of the Association of Independent Craniofacial Advocates (AICA) is to let our elected officials know about pending legislation, request their support of those bills, and educate the general public about craniofacial conditions and issues.

Many individuals understand the importance of advocacy, but are not sure how they can participate in the grassroots effort. Here are the steps you can take to further the mission of the AICA:

Support Pending Legislation

1. Commit - Make the decision to join us in our advocacy efforts.
2. Investigate - Familiarize yourself with pending state and federal legislation. Are your elected officials already on the co-sponsor list(s)?
3. Fact-gather - Use the search links on our main page to find contact information for your state and federal elected officials.
4. Contact and Inform - Use our sample letter templates to send a letter, fax or e-mail to your elected officials. You may prefer to contact them by telephone. Request their support, or thank them for their support if they are already on the co-sponsor list.
5. Follow-up - Call or write the offices of the officials you have contacted to reiterate your request, thank them for their support, and/or make an appointment to visit them or their legislative assistant to discuss the issues.
6. Spread the word - Forward a link to this website to anyone interested in craniofacial issues.

Introduce State Legislation

1. Commit - Make the decision to join us in our advocacy efforts.
2. Investigate - Familiarize yourself with the verbiage of existing state laws to decide how you might fashion a similar bill for your state.
3. Fact-gather - Use the search links on our main page to find contact information for your state elected officials.
4. Contact and Inform - Write or call your elected officials to let them know the need for such legislation in your state. Include your personal experience. Provide the links to or verbiage of other states' mandates as samples of preferred verbiage.
5. Request - Ask if they are interested in introducing such legislation. Schedule a meeting to discuss needs and expectations.
6. Follow-up - Work with your elected officials to develop a comprehensive bill for introduction in your state legislature.
7. Spread the word - Contact other individuals and families in your state, encouraging them to write their elected officials requesting their support of the newly-introduced legislation.

Public Awareness and the Media

1. Commit - Make the decision to join us in our advocacy efforts.
2. Decide - Will you pursue a feature story in your local venue, or submit a press release regarding pending legislation?
3. Contact and Inform - Use the search links on our main page to find contact information for national/local media outlets. Current press releases regarding pending legislation will be available at this website for distribution. Some pieces may allow for inclusion of your personal story (one paragraph only, please).
4. Follow-up - After mailing, faxing or e-mailing a press release, contact media outlets to make sure they have received the information. Ask when the story will run and if they would like to interview you or someone else regarding the information.
5. Spread the word - Contact other individuals and families in your state, encouraging them to write contact the media with the prepared press release(s) or feature story ideas.

Need help? Contact aica-advocates@cox.net for assistance interfacing with your elected officials or the media.

Regards,


Debbie Oliver
Association of Independent Craniofacial Advocates (AICA)
aica-advocates@cox.net

Pending Legislation - Pennsylvania

The Association of Independent Craniofacial Advocates (AICA) has become aware of possible pending legislation in the state of Pennsylvania regarding orthodontic treatment for persons with cleft lip and/or palate.

We are awaiting word from Representative Nicholas Micozzie's office (Republican - Delaware County) as to whether they will introduce a bill and in what timeframe. A request was made to them by a constituent that remains un-named to us.

We would like to persuade Micozzie to introduce a bill that will focus not only on orthodontic treatment, but will encompass all medically-necessary treatment for craniofacial patients.

Present members of the PA advocacy team are:

Jason and Missy Fry
Cat Potter
Robin Siversten
Debbie Oliver
Michele ________

Let us know if you are interested in the grassroots efforts in PA by sending an e-mail to mailto:aica@cox.net Please include your name and district.