Newsletters

October Newsletter       Volume 5 Issue 10

Patients in the News

Kevin Radovich recently returned to full active duty as a police officer in Kent, New York. Kevin sustained injuries to his leg in a motorcycle accident resulting in an above knee amputation. From the

Kevin Radovich

first day, Kevin stated that he was going to return to full duty as a police officer. Kevin progressed very quickly with his rehabilitation and his adjustment to wearing a prosthesis. Read more of Kevin's story at:

Tomasz Starnawski was featured in an article in the PT Advance entitled "Standing Tall: One physical therapist helps a patient realize his dream of running again." The article, written by his physical therapist, Stacy Halverson, MS, PT, focus on Tomasz's journey through rehabilitation after sustaining injuries in a car accident and how he and Stacy connected with A Step Ahead Prosthetics.
Tomasz returned to running, ran his first 10 kilometer race at the 2008 APSIRE 10K, and is now a proud member of Team A Step Ahead. To read the entire article go to:
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/Standing-Tall-8.aspx

To read more about Tomasz, go to his page on our website:  http://www.astepaheadonline.com/tomasz_starnawski.html

From the Billing Department

Yes, it is that time of year again when summer ends and fall begins. It is also insurance options time for many people. It is time to check your insurance coverage to make sure that you are optimizing your prosthetic coverage. So check your options and your insurance coverage. If you have any questions about your current insurance coverage or any changes in coverage call the billing department or email us at janet@astepaheadonline.com.

Custom Covers For Your Prosthetic Knee

A Step Ahead has developed a new product designed to cover your C-Leg. Made of layers of carbon graphite and applied to intimately fit and protect your C-Leg, the cover is removable and durable. The cover can be customized with a variety of design patterns. For more information about this new C-Leg cover, call our office and speak to one of our prosthetists.

Mobility Clinic

Join Dave Balsley, P.T. and Phil Kreuter, P.T. at the Jericho High School track on Long Island for their monthly mobility clinic at 10 am on Sunday October 19. They will provide instruction in gait training and running techniques as well as advanced mobility skills. Dave and Phil have extensive experience working with amputees of all ages and activity levels. Come work out with world class athletes and learn from experienced coaches and physical therapists. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. There is no pressure; come learn and see what you can do to improve yourself or just to watch. For more information and directions to the mobility clinic, call the office at 516-681-3484.

National Peer Network for Amputees

The Amputee Coalition of America has a nationwide program that trains people with limb loss to be a certified peer visitor. The peer visitor program has been developed by the ACA to train people with limb loss to provide support and information to recent amputees. Prospective peer visitors are required to attend a one day seminar and certification program that includes extensive training and role playing by an experienced peer visitor instructor. The ACA has a National Peer Network that will assist with matching peer visitors with recent amputees of similar age, gender, and amputation level. For more information, articles, and frequently asked questions on the ACA's peer support program go to:   http://www.amputee-coalition.org/npn_about.html

Becoming a peer visitor is an excellent opportunity to assist new amputees in adjusting to a life changing event.

Beijing Paralympic Results

Four Team A Step Ahead athletes competed in the Beijing Paralympic Games. Congratulations to Jesse Karamzin who, along with his teammates, won a silver medal in rowing and to Alison Jones, who rode the fastest time in her combined classification, but due to a weighted point system took the silver medal in cycling in the individual time trial. Jeff Glasbrenner and The United States wheelchair basketball team advanced to the bronze medal game but lost to Great Britain. Lee Carter of Canada competed in wheelchair tennis. A Step Ahead and Team A Step Ahead are proud to support Paralympic athletes in their pursuit of their athletic goals on the worldwide stage.

Ocean to Sound Relay

Lori Penesis, Michael Laforgia, Jack Ahrens, Shlomo Nimrodi, Amy Palmiero-Winters, and Tommy Koehler competed in the annual Ocean to Sound 50 mile relay race on Long Island. With some running done by Chris Kort and Phil Kreuter, who substituted for 2 runners, the team finished in a time of 7:27:44, an average pace of 8:56 per mile, finishing 79th out of 118 teams.     

Westchester Triathlon

On September 20 and 21, 11 athletes from Junior Team A Step Ahead and six adult athletes competed at The Jarden Westchester Triathlon. The junior athletes competed in the 100 yard swim/1 mile bike/1 mile run. 

The junior team competed on Saturday. Sofia Castillo, Max Gold, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and
Larry Mantilla competed on team 1, with Sofia swimming, Max doing the bike portion in his
wheelchair, and Ryan and Larry sharing the run.

On Team 2 Julia Brietenbach did the swim, Nick Minerva the bike portion, and Jake Lillis the run.

On Team 3 Edriss Tate-Crawley did a lightning-fast swim, followed by Anthony Desano who completed the bike and the run portion of the relay.

Cate Hughes, 6 years old, and Victoria Cutrone- Foley completed the entire triathlon - swim, bike and run - on their own. 

Junior Team A Step Ahead at the Westchester Triathlon

Amputee Support Groups

The next ASPIRE support group meeting will be on Wednesday October 29 at 6:15 pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY.  For more information about the
ASPIRE support group contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group Every First Friday of the Month 9-11 AM Hoyt Board Room Children's Hospital of New York  in Room 121, 3959 Broadway New York, NY 10032. (Enter on West 167th and Broadway at the glass Energy Court). For further information and to RSVP, contact Annette Ward at 212-305-3964. October's support group meeting will feature Amy Palmiero-Winters speaking on her experience as a world class athlete and how her life has changed since her amputation.  

The Long Island amputee support group meets the first Saturday of each month at South Side Hospital, 301 East Main Street in Bayshore. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Jodi Adler at 631-968-3330.

Update on Prosthetic Parity Legislation

Historic Bipartisan Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate Requires Meaningful Health Insurance Coverage for Amputees

"Group Health Plan Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008" Introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

A historic bipartisan bill was introduced on September 19 in the U.S. Senate that would require health insurance companies to provide meaningful coverage for prosthetic care. The bipartisan bill, S. 3517 the "Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008," is co-sponsored by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), and Russell Feingold (D-WI) and is supported by the Amputee Coalition of America. The bill is designed to ensure that amputees covered by employer-paid health insurance are able to access the prosthetic care they need to lead full and independent lives.

With the introduction of the Senate bill, both houses of Congress are now considering legislation requiring that insurance companies provide meaningful coverage of prosthetic care. "The Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008" was introduced in March into the U.S. House of Representatives. The bills require insurance companies to cover prosthetic care as they do all essential medical care, hence the phrase "prosthetic parity."

The House bill was also introduced with bipartisan support. The number of House sponsors has more than quadrupled with strong and growing support on both sides of the aisle.

"The legislation which we are introducing today - the Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008 - will ensure that group health plans treat coverage of such prosthetic devices on par with other essential medical care covered by health insurance. It does not mandate coverage, but it does assure than when it is offered, it is not so restricted or capped that it does not assure an amputee of the prosthetic they require," said Senator Snowe.

"Individuals with employer-paid health insurance deserve meaningful coverage for prosthetic care. Our Senators and Representatives are increasingly aware of the extent to which health insurers deny their enrollees meaningful coverage for prosthetic care, thus denying them the artificial limbs they need to live full lives," said Kendra Calhoun, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America.

She explained that many health insurance companies cap their prosthetic care benefits too low for the average person to obtain prostheses, and they often impose lifetime caps or eliminate coverage completely. Some insurance companies provide coverage for only one prosthesis per lifetime. On average, an adult amputee will need a replacement every five years, and children even more frequently as they grow.

The Amputee Coalition of America has collected and analyzed data demonstrating that health insurance parity laws would have a minimal cost impact--only about 25 cents more per month on insurance premiums. "Parity legislation would save the federal government and taxpayers money by preventing cost shifting for prosthetic care from the health insurance companies to government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid," said Ms. Calhoun.

"This proposed legislation 'The Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008' will put prosthetic devices where they belong - on par with other essential medical care covered by health insurance. It is parity, it is equity, and it is the right thing to do for amputees. We enthusiastically commend Senator Snowe and Senator Harkin for their leadership on this important issue," Calhoun said.

There are nearly two million individuals living with limb differences or loss in the United States, including 70,000 under the age of 18. On average, each year 155,000 people in the United States lose a limb. The importance of meaningful insurance coverage for amputees is also the focus of legislation at the state level. Eleven states have enacted prosthetic parity laws, and legislation is being advanced in more than 30 states, according to Ms. Calhoun.