The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and
Prosthetics (NAAOP) recently reached out to O&P community to come together
in support of H.R. 5428 – the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights,
in a press release.
The legislation, which was recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives by chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee by Rep. Bob
Filner (D-CA), differs slightly from the original bill that was introduced.
“The new language in H.R. 5428 adds an enforcement mechanism for
the rights created under the bill,” according to the release. “In
addition to being required to post in every VA O&P clinic a list of rights
that injured and amputee veterans have, the VA will also be required to post
these rights on their website and create a complaint system so these rights
have ‘teeth.’”
The legislation is intended to educate veterans across the country about
their rights and ensure that they receive quality O&P care that is
consistent.
“NAAOP has always felt that as the spotlight on injured and amputee
veterans begins to dim, the attention to meeting the needs of orthotic and
prosthetic patients will also decrease. That is why enactment of this
legislation is so important,” the release reads. “No legislation will
offer a silver bullet to ensure that all veterans get what they need when they
need it, but this bill is a significant step forward.”
