GAO to Initiate Study of Assistive Technologies for Amputees in Response to Congressional Effort Endorsed by AOTA

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has notified the lead House and Senate sponsors of the Access to Assistive Technology and Devices for Americans Study Act (Triple A Study Act, H.R. 2461/S.1089) that it will initiate a study this year after being asked to do so by those Congressional champions. The Triple A study will focus on access to assistive technologies and devices for people with limb loss and limb difference and recommend policies to improve care in this area. AOTA worked with the Amputee Coalition and Congressional champions to ensure that the study will examine the critical role of occupational therapy practitioners along with physical therapists and physicians to provide best outcomes.

H.R. 2461 was introduced in 2021 by Reps. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY), while S.1089 was introduced by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Earlier versions of the legislation had omitted occupational therapy practitioners and the role they play in this area. Disability researchers and policymakers often face knowledge gaps when developing policy to address barriers to care for people with disabilities. GAO's Triple A Study will develop a report analyzing appropriate coverage and provision of health care services to people with limb loss or limb difference, including the provision of rehabilitative services to support acclimation to assistive technologies and a review of coding for occupational therapy as well as physical therapy and physician services in this area. AOTA will help support GAO's efforts as they develop this report.

The Amputee Coalition reports that there are 28 million Americans at risk of limb loss and 2.1 million people with limb loss already, and the study will help identify ways to improve the quality of life for everyone with this condition. AOTA will continue to engage Congressional champions on this issue to support better outcomes for patients.