Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A legislative committee has passed a bill that would require medical insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary prosthetic devices at the same amount paid by government insurance for procedures like knee and hip replacements.
House Bill 89, though, is seen by some lawmakers and some in the insurance industry as a health care mandate.
Bill sponsor and House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, hopes to provide the state's 12,500 amputees more equitable coverage.
Tami Stanley, a Utah amputee, says the cost for a prosthetic leg for her is $12,000. She says she was devastated four years ago to find that her insurance would cover removal of her leg just below the knee, but not replacement of it.
Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
