Follow the progress of So Everybody Can Move legislation in every state that has an active bill.
APRIL 2024 UPDATE: The great state of Maryland has become the first to pass So Every BODY Can Move legislation through both halves of its legislature. The aggregate vote was 174-1, with the lone “nay” being cast by some crabapple in the House of Representatives. It now awaits the signature of Governor Wes Moore, who has indicated that he will sign, making Maryland the sixth of the 50 states to enact this landmark law that vastly expands insurance coverage for prosthetic devices.
Elsewhere: New Hampshire’s SEBCM bill is halfway home, having passed through the state senate on a unanimous vote; it’s scheduled for a House committee hearing next Tuesday. Bills in Massachusetts and Minnesota have cleared their first committee hurdles. And two other states are sitting on bills that unanimously passed one chamber of the legislature last year (the House in Indiana, the Senate in New Jersey) but had to be reintroduced when the clock ran out on the ’23 session.
National organizers have launched a robust new version of their website, soeverybodycanmove.org, to centralize coordination, outreach, and strategy. Head over there if you’d like to lend your efforts to the cause in your state. The national effort is being led by the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA), Amputee Coalition, National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP), and American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP).
We’ll keep filling in details about this legislation as they emerge.
MARYLAND
Bill number: SB 614 / HB 865 (MD legislative tracker)
Current status: Passed Senate 45-0 on March 18; passed House 129-1 on April 5
Next steps: Awaits signature of Governor Wes Moore
TAKE ACTION: Contact legislators (info here)
Lead sponsor: Sen. Pamela Beidle (D)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D), Del. Ashanti Martinez (D), Del. Gabriel Acevero (D), Del. Tiffany Alston (D), Del. Heather Bagnall (D), Del. Robbyn Lewis (D), Del. Jeffrie Long Jr. (D), Del. Denise Roberts (D), Del. Kym Taylor (D), Del. Veronica Turner (D), Del. Nicole Williams (D), Del. Jamila Woods (D)
Citizen advocates: Sheryl Sachs, John-Edward Heath, Steve McDonald
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover all devices deemed medically necessary by a physician for activities of daily living, essential job-related activities, and/or physical activities such as running, biking, swimming, strength training, or other activities necessary to maximize whole-body health. Also requires insurers to cover replacement devices and components, as deemed necessary by healthcare provider. Fiscal and Policy Note filed.
Media coverage: WMAR-Baltimore
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Bill number: SB177-FN (NH legislative tracker)
Current status: Approved by full Senate, as amended, on 1/3/24; pending before House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee
Next steps: Awaiting committee hearing date
Lead sponsor: Sen. Suzanne Prentiss (D)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D), Sen. David Watters (D), Sen. Donna Soucy (D), Sen. Rebecca Whitley (D), Sen. Donovan Fenton (D), Sen. Sharon Carson (R), Rep. Bill Bolton (D), Rep. William Palmer (D), Rep. Corrine Morse (D)
Citizen advocates: Noelle Lambert, Jason Lalla
About the bill: Ensures coverage of medically necessary prosthetic devices for children up to 19 years of age. Insurers may impose an annual limit of one activity-specific prosthetic device per year. Small businesses are exempt. Provisions take effect January 1, 2025.
MINNESOTA
Bill numbers: HF 3339 / SF 3351 (MN House tracker / MN Senate tracker)
Current status: Approved unanimously by House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee (3/6) and Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee (3/7). Social+Fiscal impact report filed January 29.
Next steps: Assigned to House Health Finance and Policy Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
TAKE ACTION: Contact legislators (info here); attend mobility clinic in Capitol rotunda on March 13 (register here)
Citizen advocates: Teri Kuffel, Aaron Holm
Lead sponsor: Rep. Erin Koegel (D), Sen. John Hoffman (D)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Zach Stephenson (D), Rep. Brian Daniels (R), Rep. Heather Edelson (D), Rep. Hodan Hassan (D), Sen. Jim Abeler (R), Sen. Matt Klein (D), Sen. Kelly Morrison (D), Sen. Karin Housley (R)
About the bill: Requires health plans to cover prostheses determined by patient’s provider to be most appropriate for meeting medical needs and for performing physical activities, including but not limited to running, biking, and swimming. Also covers prostheses for showering and bathing. Insurer may require prior authorization. Includes Fair Insurance provisions.
NEW JERSEY
Bill number: S1439 / A3856 (NJ legislative tracker)
Current status: Pending before Senate Commerce and Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance committees
Next steps: Introduced in the House, referred to Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
2023 history: Passed Senate 35-0 but failed to win Assembly approval before end of session
Lead sponsors: Sen. Troy Singleton (D), Sen. Anthony Bucco (R)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Patrick Diegnan (D), Rep. Herb Conaway (D)
Citizen advocates: Steve Slawinski, CO
About the bill: Requires coverage for all devices that are determined by the patient’s physician to be necessary for physical and recreational activities, including running, bicycling, swimming, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and team and individual sports. Reimbursement is tied to federal Medicare reimbursement rates.
MASSACHUSETTS
Bill number: H.4096 (MA legislative tracker)
Current status: Approved by Joint Committee on Financial Services on April 4
Next steps: Referred to Joint House/Senate Committee on Health Care Financing
Lead sponsor: Rep. Mathew Muratore (R)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Hannah Kane (R), Rep. Kathleen La Natra (D), Rep. Norman Orrall (R), Rep. Kimberly Ferguson (R), Rep. David DeCoste (R), Rep. Lindsey Sabadosa (D), Rep. Michelle Ciccolo (D), Rep. Marcus Vaughn (R), Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R), Rep. Christopher Hendricks (D), Rep. Joseph McKenna (R), Rep. Patrick Kearney (D), Rep. David Vieira (R)
Citizen advocates: Maggie Baumer, NAAOP
About the bill: Requires coverage for prosthetic devices, as prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner, that support performance of physical activities or athletic activities to maximize patients’ ability to ambulate, run, bike and swim, and to maximize upper limb function.
INDIANA
Bill number: HB 1428 (IN legislative tracker)
Current status: Pending before House Public Health Committee; fiscal analysis filed Jan 11, 2024
Next steps:
2023 history: Passed House of Representatives (91-0) on February 20 as HB 1433; approved by Senate Health and Provider Services Committee (11-0) but never reached Senate Floor
Lead sponsor: Rep. Harold Slager (R)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Julie Olthoff (R), Rep. Rita Fleming (D), Rep. Brad Barrett (R), Sen. Justin Busch (R), Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Linda Rogers (R), Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R)
Citizen advocates: Eric Schopmeyer CO, Nick Rhoad
About the bill: Requires secretary of family and social services to apply waivers necessary to include prosthetic and orthotic devices under Medicaid. Specifies that minors may receive prosthetic or orthotic devices for the recipient’s medical needs. Requires reimbursement for the replacement of an orthotic or prosthetic device for a minor for certain reasons.
Media: Indiana Capital Chronicle (5/31/23)
TENNESSEE
Bill number: HB 1992 / SB 2010 (TN legislative tracker)
Current status: Assigned to Senate Commerce + Labor Committee / House Insurance Committee
Next steps: Senate Committee hearing Mar 12
Lead sponsors: Sen. Shane Reeves (R), Rep. Darren Jernigan (D)
Co-sponsors:
Citizen advocates: Joseph Huntsman, David Seaman
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover prosthetic devices deemed medically necessary for activities of daily living, essential job-related activities, physical activities, or maximizing whole-body health and lower or upper limb function. Includes Fair Insurance provisions.
NEBRASKA
Bill number: LB 1274 (NE legislative tracker)
Current status: Pending before Banking, Commerce + Insurance Committee
Next steps: Committee hearing Feb 20
Lead sponsor: Sen. John Cavanaugh (D)
Co-sponsors:
Citizen advocates: Vincent Lau
About the bill: Enacts Fair Insurance provisions
CONNECTICUT
Bill number: Introduction pending
Current status:
Next steps:
Lead sponsor:
Co-sponsors:
Citizen advocates: Herb Kolodny, Lindi Mitsou, Brenda Novak
About the bill:
BILLS ENACTED IN 2022-2023
NEW MEXICO
Bill number: HB-131 (NM legislative tracker)
Current status: SIGNED INTO LAW: Approved unanimously by House and Senate; signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 7, 2023
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: So New Mexicans Can Move
Lead sponsor: Rep. Liz Thomson (D)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Kathleen Cates (D), Rep. Joshua Hernandez (R), Rep. John Block (R), Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill (D), Rep. Gail Armstrong (R)
Citizen advocates: Kyle Stepp, Laura Lewis
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover recreational prosthetic devices for all amputees, regardless of age, if treating physician determines the device is medically necessary. Requires private insurers to offer prosthetic coverage equal to or better than Medicare prosthetic coverage.
Recent media coverage:
New Mexico Sun
Amplitude
COLORADO
Bill number: HB23-1136 (CO legislative tracker)
Current status: SIGNED INTO LAW
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Rocky Mountain Orthotic and Prosthetic Coalition
Lead sponsor: Rep. David Ortiz (D)
Co-sponsors: Rep. Anthony Harstook (R), Sen. Faith Winter (D), Sen. Larry Liston (R)
Citizen advocates:
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover recreational prosthetic devices for amputees of all ages if treating physician determines the device is medically necessary.
ARKANSAS
Bill number: HB 1252 (AR legislative tracker)
Current status: SIGNED INTO LAW: Passed full Senate 30-1 on April 5, and full House (as amended by Senate) 95-0 on April 6; signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on April 13
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Lead sponsor: Rep. Lee Johnson (R)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Missy Irvin (R)
Citizen advocates:
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover the most appropriate prosthetic device that adequately meets the patient’s medical and recreational needs, as determined by the physician and prosthetist. These provisions apply only to K-3 and K-4 amputees, as per a Senate amendment.
ILLINOIS
Bill number: SB 2195 (IL legislative tracker)
Current status: SIGNED INTO LAW
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Lead sponsor: Sen. Ann Gillespie (D)
Co-sponsors:
Citizen advocates:
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover recreational prosthetic devices for all amputees aged 18 or younger if treating physician determines the device is medically necessary. Requires private insurers to offer prosthetic coverage to all amputees, regardless of age, equal to or better than Medicare prosthetic coverage.
MAINE
Bill number: LD 1003, Act To Improve Outcomes for Persons with Limb Loss
Current status: SIGNED INTO LAW: Enacted May 7, 2022
Lead sponsor: Rep. Colleen Madigan (D)
Co-sponsors: Cathy Breen (D)
Citizen advocates: Jordan Simpson
About the bill: Requires insurers to cover recreational prosthetic devices for all amputees aged 18 or younger if treating physician determines the device is medically necessary.