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)