Industry Group To Vow That Boston Terror Attack Victims "Will Walk And Run Again"

Warning of Little-Understood Gaps and Limits in Many Health Insurance Coverage Plans, Orthotic and Prosthetic Companies to Help Those Injured in Bombing With Needed Devices, Related Care.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Given that major "holes" in insurance coverage may leave victims of the Boston terror attack facing major costs for their initial prostheses – as well as replacement devices needed in the future -- the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) will hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. EDT on April 30, 2013 to announce the formation of the "Coalition to Walk & Run Again."

The industry will unveil its plan to ensure compassionate access to artificial limbs for uninsured and underinsured amputee victims of the Boston Marathon terror attack.   The announcement of the Coalition will come with a warning to all Americans about little-understood gaps and severe limitations in many health insurance plans for orthotic and prosthetic devices.

The following speakers are planned for the AOPA news conference:

• A victim of the Boston terror attack.
• Kendra Calhoun, president, Amputee Coalition. 
• Charles Dankmeyer, founder of Dankmeyer, Inc., an orthotics and prosthetics firm in Linthicum, MD.  A bilateral, below-the-knew amputee, Dankmeyer also is an AOPA vice president.
• Tom Fise, executive director, American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association.

TO PARTICIPATE:  You can join this live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 1:30 p.m. EDT on April 30, 2013 by dialing 1 (800) 860-2442. Ask for the "aid for Boston terror attack victims" news event.

CAN'T PARTICIPATE?:  A streaming audio replay of this news event will be available on the AOPA Web site by 5 p.m. EDT on April 30, 2013 at http://www.aopanet.org.

The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is a national trade association committed to providing high quality, unprecedented business services and products to orthotic & prosthetic (O&P) professionals.  Founded in 1917, AOPA membership consists of more than 2,000 O&P patient care facilities and suppliers that manufacture, distribute, design, fabricate, fit, and supervise the use of orthoses (orthopedic braces) and prostheses (artificial limbs).  For more information, visit http://www.aopanet.org. In regard to this new coalition to assist Boston victims, AOPA is working together with the Amputee Coalition, the American Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists, and the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics.

SOURCE American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association. Washington, D.C.