Support for HR2820 - 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.
Support HR2820, the Reconstructive Surgery Act! For more information, visit our advocacy website at http://www.aica-advocates.blogspot.com/.
For information about support and services, visit http://www.cleftadvocate.org/ and http://www.ameriface.org/.
You, or someone you love, can become a craniofacial patient at any time.
An accident, an animal attack, a burn, a stroke, a disease, or the joyous birth of a child. In a blink of an eye, life can change.
According to a report issued in January 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), orofacial clefts are now the number one most common birth defects in the United States (http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060105.htm).
Thousands of babies are born each year with vascular anomalies, such as venous malformations, hemangiomas and port wine stains.
Many more individuals become craniofacial patients each year due to burns, trauma and diseases like oral/head/neck cancer.
Unfortunately, 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 healthy, normal life.
The Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820) was re-introduced by Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas on June 21, 2007. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by craniofacial patients are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.
While some states have laws guaranteeing coverage for treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities, most of them (as well as proposed federal legislation similar to HR2820) guarantee coverage for patients only to age 21; unfortunately, craniofacial conditions do not simply disappear when a child reaches adulthood and many patients do not even acquire their condition until adulthood. State laws also do not address the issue of self-insured funds.
We encourage members of Congress to research and co-sponsor 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.
Along with constituent letters collected from around the country, we will submit this petition not only to Congressman Mike Ross to share with his colleagues in the House, but we will also submit a copy to each and every member Congress personally. We look forward to finding a Senator equally as dedicated as Mr. Ross to introduce this legislation on the Senate side.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.aica-advocates.blogspot.com/.
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.
Support HR2820, the Reconstructive Surgery Act! For more information, visit our advocacy website at http://www.aica-advocates.blogspot.com/.
For information about support and services, visit http://www.cleftadvocate.org/ and http://www.ameriface.org/.
You, or someone you love, can become a craniofacial patient at any time.
An accident, an animal attack, a burn, a stroke, a disease, or the joyous birth of a child. In a blink of an eye, life can change.
According to a report issued in January 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), orofacial clefts are now the number one most common birth defects in the United States (http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060105.htm).
Thousands of babies are born each year with vascular anomalies, such as venous malformations, hemangiomas and port wine stains.
Many more individuals become craniofacial patients each year due to burns, trauma and diseases like oral/head/neck cancer.
Unfortunately, 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 healthy, normal life.
The Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820) was re-introduced by Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas on June 21, 2007. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by craniofacial patients are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.
While some states have laws guaranteeing coverage for treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities, most of them (as well as proposed federal legislation similar to HR2820) guarantee coverage for patients only to age 21; unfortunately, craniofacial conditions do not simply disappear when a child reaches adulthood and many patients do not even acquire their condition until adulthood. State laws also do not address the issue of self-insured funds.
We encourage members of Congress to research and co-sponsor 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.
Along with constituent letters collected from around the country, we will submit this petition not only to Congressman Mike Ross to share with his colleagues in the House, but we will also submit a copy to each and every member Congress personally. We look forward to finding a Senator equally as dedicated as Mr. Ross to introduce this legislation on the Senate side.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.aica-advocates.blogspot.com/.
As your constituents, we are signing this petition urging you to co-sponsor The Reconstructive Surgery Act of 2007 (HR2820), introduced by Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas on June 21. Signers are from all over the United States, living in many Congressional districts.
According to a report issued in January 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), orofacial clefts are now the number one most common birth defects in the United States (http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060105.htm).
Thousands of babies are born each year with vascular anomalies, such as venous malformations, hemangiomas and port wine stains.
Many more individuals become craniofacial patients each year due to burns, trauma and diseases like oral/head/neck cancer.
Unfortunately, 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 healthy, normal life.
The Reconstructive Surgery Act (HR2820) was re-introduced by Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas on June 21, 2007. Under this legislation, health insurance and managed care companies will be forced to recognize that ongoing medical procedures needed by craniofacial patients are not cosmetic, but are reconstructive in nature.
While some states have laws guaranteeing coverage for treatment and surgery for patients with craniofacial abnormalities, most of them (as well as proposed federal legislation similar to HR2820) guarantee coverage for patients only to age 21; unfortunately, craniofacial conditions do not simply disappear when a child reaches adulthood and many patients do not even acquire their condition until adulthood. State laws also do not address the issue of self-insured funds.
We encourage you to research and co-sponsor 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.
We 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.
For more information, visit our website at
My friend's baby was just born with a cleft lip. This wonderful little girl can have a surgery that will dramatically improve her quality of life. As to why this isn't covered by insurance is baffling to me. Thank you
As the grandparent of a child with cleft lip I know how critical this surgery is to her normal development and how impossible it is for many parents to afford all of the associated costs of the surgery, the speech therapy, the lactation specialist and many other consultations needed. I urge you to pass this legislation.
As the parent of a cleft affected child, I am blessed to be on a health plan that covers my child's reconstructive surgery completely. This is not the case for thousands of other parents in my situation. Reconstructive surgery for cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial conditions is NOT optional or cosmetic. Insurance companies should be mandated to cover these life-altering reconstructive surgeries today. Too many parents in my situation are flirting with bankruptcy because their profit driven insurance companies refuse to cover these crucial surgeries. It's not right. Please help.
My daughter is 3 weeks old and born with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip. While we are fortunate that my employer happens to provide good insurance that will cover most of what she will need, my heart breaks for the families that are having to scrape together funds to provide such a life-changing surgery for their little ones.
I am a mother of a baby girl who was born with bladder exstrophy which caused her bladder to be on outside along with pubic and genatalia deformation which needs to be corrective and other surgery. We can't have it done for insurance want approve it. I think that any child are person that is born with a condition that requires medical attention should be paid for by the insurance. I don't understand why they bring in other people from other countires to have this done for free what about our children here in the United States also we too can't afford these surgeries. Please pass this bill it is important for everyone.
It is beyond my understanding that any state wouldn't pay for reconstructive surgery, a freinds little baby girl was born with a cleft pallett, her parents or most parents could not afford to pay the medical bills piling up..and because her parent's have insurance that comes from a state that doesn't pay for it, this little girl would have to struggle through life with this deformity, we bring children from other countries, for reconstructive surgeries for free, yet in our own country some states don't think our children are not important enough. Very sad, please pass the bill mandating all states cover reconsturctive surgeries.
I am a parent of a child born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and cleft palate. I am in the appeal process with the insurance company to pay for her rhinoplasty surgery.
As the parent of a child born with a cleft lip and palate, this bill is of particular interest to me. I believe this much needed legislation will help protect families as they go through the lengthy reconstruction process. When my son was 7 months old he needed to be fitted with a prosthetic implant that helped fill the gap in his palate. This was a medical necessity in order for his jaw to start developing properly and to make eating solid foods possible. Because the device was fitted by a pediatric dentist it was originally classified as "dental" and denied by our insurance company. After jumping through many hoops and writing numerous letters verifying the medical necessity of this device, the insurance company finally paid. Our outcome was positive, but the road to get there was rocky and added stress at a time that was already difficult. So many other families do not have such positive outcomes. Please support this bill so that all families with children who have craniofacial differences can focus more on what matters -- taking care of their children -- and not fighting with insurance companies.
Today when I looked into my new grandson's face I was reminded of what a miracle birth really is. I can't image anyone would expect a child to go through life and except that's all we can do for you. You were born with this disability live with it. We have the tools and the talents to make this right for all children. Why would we not want too? Pass this law. Diane Hammoms GrandMother
My nephew, Jacob Chappell, was born with an extremely severe cleft pallet. I cannot even imagine how difficult life would have been had he not undergone reconstructive surgery. People are cruel and discriminatory towards individuals who look different. This surgery is necessary for quality of life.
My great grandson has a cleft lip and palete. His parents have hugemedical bills from the surgeries. He will need multiple surgeries to get it repaired.
I am the mother of a newborn with Bilateral Cleft Lip/Palate. Our son has already had one surgery and will have to have multiple surgeries throughout his life. We have insurance but have already had many medical bills in relation to the cleft that have put enormous financial strain on our family. Please help us and the children who desperatly need these repairs to live a normal life.
My son has Bilateral CLeft Lip and Palate and will require multiple surgeries throughouthis lifetime. Please help us to encourage insurance companies to cover the necessary repairs to help these children get the surgery they need. These procedures are not cosmetic. They must be done.
Please help us get the help we need , this is so important . `And can make a huge difference in the lives of many families , suffering from this. Please have mercy for all of the innocent babies. This can make a world of difference in everyones life and the future of many children.
A very close friend of mine just gave birth to a baby with a cleft lip and palate. He will need a series of surgeries into adulthood to correct his craniofacial anomalies. Passage of this legislation will support healthy development of the child and offer some peace of mind to a wonderful family.
