The 2008 Amputee Coalition of America’s annual national conference in Atlanta June 19 through 22 set new attendance records, driven by interest in the proposed federal prosthetic parity law and other issues of importance to amputees.

“Our 2008 conference drew more than 870 attendees from 41 states and two countries, the highest number ever, including nearly 270 who attended for the first time,” said Paddy Rossbach, RN, CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America.

“Conference sessions were well attended on the proposed federal insurance parity law, the Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008, which requires insurance companies to cover prosthetic care as they do all essential medical care. Also attracting a lot of attention was a session covering the campaigns around the country supporting state legislation for health insurance parity for prostheses. Eleven states have passed legislation requiring health insurers to provide meaningful coverage for prosthetic care, and similar legislation has been proposed in 29 other states,” said Ms. Rossbach. “Louisiana is the most recent state to enact a prosthetic care parity law,” she said.

“As always, the mobility clinic drew enthusiastic crowds who literally cheered each other on as participants learned to run for the first time. In addition, many new sessions introduced at this year’s conference generated a great deal of interest, including the new upper extremity track.  But the track that delighted everyone was the family track.  Seeing children as young as four running around on their miniature pink and purple prostheses brought a smile to everyone’s face, including at least one parent whose child was as excited, as she had never seen another child amputee before,” said Ms. Rossbach.

“The conference featured more than 40 exhibitors, including many of the leading organizations in the O&P community,” said Ms. Rossbach.

Educational sessions at the Amputee Coalition of America’s national annual conference were partially supported through the Coalition’s collaborative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Amputee Coalition of America is a nonprofit consumer educational organization that advocates on behalf of people who have experienced amputation or are born with limb differences. The ACA includes individual amputees, amputee educational and support groups, family members and friends of amputees, physicians and other healthcare and rehabilitation professionals, prosthetists, amputation and limb loss related agencies and other organizations.

For information on becoming a member or making a donation to the Amputee Coalition of America, visit the ACA website at http://www.amputee-coalition.org. A national 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Amputee Coalition of America relies on grants and private support for its programs. Most donations to the Amputee Coalition of America are tax deductible.