Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center Pushing for Expanded Coverage for Prosthetic Patients
Thursday, June 6th, 2024 | amputation, Prosthetics | No Comments
Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center in Knoxville, TN, is part of a grassroots state and federal effort to broaden insurance coverage of prosthetic and orthotic devices. The “So Everybody Can Move” initiative asks state legislatures to require insurance companies to cover devices that can used for physical activity or hygienic purposes.
“In Tennessee insurance currently only pays for one device every 3 to 5 years,” says Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center Director, Hannah Howington, CPO. “It’s a basic quality of life issue, for people with limb loss to be able to move and be active. Most state, federal and private health plans don’t consider physical activity and exercise “medically necessary.”
“Individuals often require different prosthetic devices for different uses, including hygienic purposes such as showering. We hope to raise awareness and get people involved in advocating for this disability rights issue,” explains Howington.
According to the Amputee Coalition, around 1.7 million Americans use a prosthetic limb. The cost of a prosthesis can range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on the type and complexity of the prosthetic.
Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, June 11th, from 4:30pm – 6:30pm, to enable patients and their caregivers to learn more about the “So Everybody Can Move” effort. The Center is located at 6408 Papermill Drive, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN, 37919.
For more information about this disability rights issue, visit: https://soeverybodycanmove.org/