SPECTRUM NEWS: Bill to expand prosthetic, orthotic access inspired by N.C. woman’s journey

A bill moving through the North Carolina General Assembly could help folks who have needed an amputation get moving again. The legislation was inspired by the experience of one North Carolina native.

Reagan Perry of Raleigh is always on the go.

“I don’t think people realize how much you move around in a day until you have that ability taken from you,” Perry said.

But in the last eight years, how she moves has changed. Her journey began on the courts.

“At 15, I was playing tennis and noticed some pain in my shin. I went to the doctor and found out I had a 7 1/2-inch non-cancerous bone tumor,” she recalled.

The tumor left her with severe pain and limited mobility, forcing her to make a difficult decision.

“I wanted to save my leg. I spent years trying to save my leg, but it got to a point where I wanted to move on with my life,” Perry said.

The hope of more movement prompted a leg amputation in early 2024.

The Amputee Coalition estimates that 185,000 people across the country need an amputation each year. Thousands of them are in North Carolina.

After recovery, therapy and fittings, Perry was able to stand on her own again.

“Once I finally got a prosthetic, it was such a big accomplishment to be able to go to the grocery store on my own. Just the freedom I started coming back into as soon as I got this was life-changing off the bat,” she said.

Despite her new freedom, one part of her life didn’t return.

“I wish I could go shoot basketball with some friends or get on the tennis court or even just take my dog for a walk,” Perry said. “I’ve been chasing that since I was 15. I just want to get back to that.”

After her amputation, Perry was surprised to learn insurance only covers a leg for walking, forcing her to shell out more than $50,000 if she wants a prosthetic to get back to the tennis courts. Perry said for so many, the price is far from feasible.

“That doesn’t seem right because if I were to have torn my ACL, that’s technically an elective surgery to get repaired and insurance covers that elective surgery and all the rehab, braces or anything else you need to return to sport after that,” Perry said. “I didn’t really have an option to undergo an amputation, but once you become an amputee, insurance says that walking is all you need.”

“They’ve already had the trauma,” said state Rep. Grant Campbell of Cabarrus County. “We need to get them back to what they were.”

That approach is already taken in the military, where VA benefits cover multiple prosthetics and therapies.

A freshman Republican, Campbell served three tours overseas working as a trauma surgeon in the U.S. Army.

“I had to be part of that decision sometimes to say, is this leg, is this arm salvageable?” he said.

Campbell is sponsoring legislation named after Perry, who is also the daughter of retired Republican state Sen. Jim Perry.

Reagan’s Law would require insurance companies to expand their coverage to help everyday people return to action.

The legislation would expand access to custom orthotics and prosthetics, specifically naming devices to allow a patient to return to physical activities.

Under the bill, amputees would not be limited to one custom device.

“We don’t want the bar to be simply, 'OK, Reagan can get up from a chair and she can get from point A to point B,'” Campbell said. “We want science to follow her that if she wants to get out of that chair and go for a run, if she wants to get out of that chair and play tennis again that whatever is required for that activity, therapy sessions, be it different prosthetics, that that be covered for her.”

Perry is pushing for a positive outcome for herself and others like her.

She’s eyeing medical school, another goal putting her in motion.

“I want to have a prosthetic that will allow me to be active so that I can keep myself healthy so that I can take care of other people. I’m sure a lot of people never expect to be an amputee, and it doesn’t affect them until it does. I guarantee that if it affected you or your family, that you would think this is unfair and want it to change,” Perry said.

Reagan’s Law passed with a unanimous vote in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Wednesday after passing the Senate.

It now heads to Governor Stein’s desk where it has a chance to be signed into law.

As always, check with your insurance provider for details of your coverage.