A coalition of amputees and prosthetic device manufacturers has showed vehement opposition to a Medicare proposal, saying it poses the risk of limiting access to prosthetic limbs. They are voicing their concerns and taking the matter to Anne Arundel County non Wednesday. The coalition has set the stage for the federal government to organize a hearing on the policy.

The proposal calls for imposing new requirements to cover more advances lower-limb prostheses. The requirement includes that a patient be able to walk after a prosthetic limb has been given to him and his gait should appear natural. Such a standard has been called offensive by many who are opposed to the proposal.

Of 2 million people in the US who have lost a limb, 150,000 are in the Medicare system. Advocates fear adoption of similar limiting policies by Department of Veterans Affairs and private insurers. In 2009, Medicare spent $655 million on prosthetic services.

“This is as stupid a rule as I've ever seen. This rule completely ignores what's going on with amputees”, said former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Nebraska Democrat who lost his right leg below the knee in Vietnam. He is working with advocates to makes changes in the policy.

The hearing on the policy will take place 8am Wednesday at Airport Square Business Park in Linthicum.

Rise in Medicare spending for lower limb prostheses accounted for 27%, increasing to $655 million from $517, between 2005 and 2009. The rise was seen despite a 2.5% decline in the number of patients requiring lower prosthetic limbs.