1in38 Advocacy Day - Join us on 2/25/2020
Bull Moose Club
150 State Street, Floor 4 (Franklin Room)
Albany, NY 12207
8:00am Opening Remarks and Briefing
10:00am Legislative Appointments Begin
4:00pm Conclude
Support A.8890 (Simon), Give Kids A Chance–Carter’s Law so that New York health insurance companies can no longer routinely deny coverage for medical procedures and therapies they consider not medically necessary.
Take a stand and help kids get a chance at a full and productive life!
> Sign the Petition
Background
In New York, 1 in 38 babies are born with a congenital anomaly. On average, children with congenital anomalies can expect anywhere from three to five surgical procedures throughout their childhood to restore a more normal appearance and function.
Although insurance carriers may provide coverage for the initial procedures, they may resist coverage of the later stage procedures, claiming they are cosmetic and not medically necessary. Denial or delay of these procedures – which by definition are reconstructive – could lead to long-term physical, functional, and psychological injuries.
To a layperson, repair of a congenital anomaly may seem cosmetic in nature. However, reconstructive surgery is performed to treat structures of the body affected aesthetically or functionally by congenital or developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease. It is generally done to improve function and ability, and may also be performed to achieve a more typical appearance of the affected structure.
Coverage should also be provided for healthcare services that help an individual keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. Habilitative services may include physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and other services for people with disabilities in a variety of inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
