Immediate Press Release

David versus Goliath 2006 Florida Legislative Fight:

David A. Schultz Takes on the Trillion Dollar Health Insurance Industry for Children Afflicted with Plagiocephaly and other Related Pediatric Cranial Structural Deformities through Legislation known as “Amanda’s Law”

Story Summary

Mr. David A. Schultz takes on the Trillion Dollar Health Insurance Industry with the help of Florida Senate Bill, S0482, proposed by Senator Larcenia J. Bullard (D) District 39 and Florida House Bill, HB 797, proposed by Representative Edward B. “Ed” Bullard (D) District 118 in the 2006 Florida Legislative Session. Mr. Schultz has requested that his Florida Representatives, Senate President Tom Lee (R) in District 10 and House Representative Anthony Trey Traviesa (R) in District 56, help lead the support to mandate insurance coverage for all of Florida’s children afflicted with craniofacial abnormalities and birth defects known as congenital and positional plagiocephaly. However, Mr. Schultz’s requests for legislative help and action have gone unanswered by Senate President Tom Lee and Rep. Anthony Trey Traviesa for the past six months. Once pasted, this life altering legislation for children will be precedent setting for the State of Florida as well as for the entire country to include all military families who are not presently covered. More importantly, this 2006 Florida Legislation will positively impact over 28,000 infants, toddlers, and children annually in the State of Florida that are afflicted with these structural birth defects and craniofacial abnormalities. Further, if similar legislation is adopted by the U.S. Congress, “Amanda’s Law” will positively impact over 500,000 infants, toddlers, and children annually afflicted with these structural birth defects and craniofacial abnormalities in the United States and will including all military families presently not covered under the U.S. Military Healthcare System.

Story Background

My name is David A. Schultz. My wife, Pam, and I are proud parents of our two year old daughter, Amanda Grace Schultz, who has been successfully treated with two (2) Cranial Technologies, Inc. DOC (Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty) head bands for severe plagiocephaly and brachycephaly along with right-sided severe torticollis from birthing trauma. Amanda's craniofacial physician prescribed medical treatments with Cranial Technologies, Inc. DOC bands which began May 24, 2004 and successfully ended November 1, 2004 (Approximately 6 Months) after she was diagnosed by me, her observant father. Dr. Drew E. Schnitt, M.D., Plastic Surgeon, Craniofacial and Pediatric Specialist currently practicing in South Florida medically confirmed Amanda's medical conditions through medical standardized anthropometric craniofacial measurements, craniofacial digital pictures and his years of medical expertise and specialized formal training treating infants, children and patients with craniofacial abnormalities.

Presently, Pam and I are leading legislation in the present State of Florida 2006 Legislative Session, proposed Florida Senate Bill S0482, by Senator Larcenia J. Bullard (D) District 39 and proposed Florida House of Representatives Bill, HB 797 by Representative Edward B. "Ed" Bullard. At the same time, I have requested that my State Senator representative, Senate President Tom Lee (R) District 10 and House of Representative, Rep. Anthony Trey Traviesa (R) along with other Florida Representatives to co-sponsor Senate Bill S0482 and HB 797. On behalf of my daughter, Amanda, Senate Bill S0482 and House Bill HB 797 may be named at a later date by Senate and House of Representatives Committees’ Amendments as "Amanda's Law" to speak for all children and their parents regarding the issue of mandating immediate insurance acceptance and immediate expedited insurance approval by all insurance companies by fully covering the diagnosis, treatments, and therapies related to deformational and positional plagiocephaly and other related pediatric cranial birth defects and cranial structural deformities. Accordingly, we are requesting to speak as parent expert witnesses in support of the Florida Senate Bill, S0482, in front of the Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Healthcare Committee, and Ways and Means Committee. At the same time, we are also requesting to speak as expert parent witnesses in support of the House of Representatives Bill, HB 797, in front of the Florida House of Representatives Insurance Committee, Health Care General Committee, Fiscal Council, and Commerce Council.

Our goal is to successfully pass legislation requiring all insurance companies licensed in the State of Florida to fully cover infants, toddlers, and children that are afflicted with deformational and positional plagiocephaly as well as other related cranial birth defects and deformities. Included in this legislation, we are requesting that insurance companies fully cover all of the following related medical treatments and therapies:

1. Physician specialist evaluations and examinations;
2. Physician prescribed treatment office visit follow-ups;
3. Any and all physician prescribed treatment and therapies including:
   1. Pediatric physical, speech, and occupational therapies.
   2. Pediatric ophthalmologist (eyes) evaluation and prescribed treatments such as glasses or future corrective surgeries.
   3. Pediatric otorhinolaryngologists (ENT: ears (hearing), nose, and
      larynx) evaluation and treatment.
   4. Pediatric dental examination, treatment, and therapies regarding future dental malocclusion and TMJ disorders.
   5. Dietitian consultations, services, and treatments regarding failure to thrive (FTT) issues related to necessary biological processes of drinking of liquids and eating of solid nutrients.
   6. Prescribed physicians and specialized nursing treatments and therapies for breast feeding mothers with a child or children having difficulty in latching onto the breasts for the specific purpose of in-taking of nutrients for the ability to successfully thrive.

At the same time, we are requiring that all elected Florida Legislative Representatives and Florida Executives Agencies and Departments to formally recognize plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, scaphocephaly (also known as dolichocephaly), and craniosynostosis as medical structural birth defects and deformities. In children medically diagnosed with plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and scaphocephaly (dolichocephaly), children will be able to receive conservative treatment(s) with cranial orthotic bandings as prescribed by a licensed craniofacial and pediatric specialist. In children diagnosed with craniosynostosis, children may be prescribed post surgical cranial orthotic banding to properly stabilize the cranial bone structures and increase the successful desired surgical outcomes for children.

We respectfully request that all parents, grandparents, related family members and their friends please contact these Florida State Senators and House of Representative members and request that Senate Bill S0482 and House Bill HB 797 are "agenda" in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and the House Insurance Committee listed below:

The Honorable Senate President Tom Lee (Republican)
Tallahassee Offices
Room 312
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5072

The Honorable Senator Larcenia J. Bullard (Democrat)
Tallahassee Office:
Room 218
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5127

E-mail:

The Honorable Senator Ruby Garcia (Republican)
Banking and Insurance, Chair for the Florida Senate
Tallahassee Office:
Room 302
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5106
E-mail:

The Honorable House of Representatives Speaker Allan G. Bense (Republican)
Tallahassee Office:
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Telephone: (850) 488-1450
Email:

The Honorable Representative Dennis A. Ross (Republican)
Insurance Committee, Chair for the Florida House of Representatives
Tallahassee Office:
317 House Office Building
402 south Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Telephone: (850) 488-9890
Email:

The Honorable Representative Anthony Trey Traviesa (Republican)
Tallahassee Office:
1401 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Telephone: (850) 488-9910
Email:

In addition, we suggest that you forward the information that we have provided onto your own state and federal legislators for their future consideration for legislation in your state. We are also attempting to successfully obtain U.S. Federal Legislation to address these same issues for "all U.S. States as well as Military Insurance Providers" which are not currently covered as well. Pam and I and more importantly "your children" need your help and support by taking 5 minutes to call, email, fax, and write these elected officials listed above today. Don't wait. We can not do this alone. We are up against the insurance lobbies and their well financed organizations. More importantly, I'm only asking for your time to show your overwhelming support for our efforts for your children and the future children that will be plague with these structural disorders.

Our wish is yet a simple one for you and your children. That is, that parents and their children will not have to be burden with medical health insurance inexcusable procedural company delays, lengthy insurance company appeals, lengthy insurance company boards of review for approval, and insurance coverage written policy interpretations as: "cosmetic", "experimental", or "not medically necessary" when children meet the craniofacial anthropometric guidelines for cranial orthotic treatment prescribed by a licensed physician specializing in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery.

The conservative treatment and use of cranial orthotic bands is widely accepted and approved by the medical community to include the following organizations: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), and the American Cleft-Craniofacial Association (ACPA), American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS), and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS). Moreover since July 30, 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recognized, approved, and supported the medical use of cranial orthotic bands that have been medically licensed for use under strict FDA guidelines and treatment protocols.

Again, please support our efforts to get the medical treatment that your children need and must have for any attempt for a normal structurally balanced life. We appreciate your continued help in supporting this legislation in our State of Florida which will hopefully lead to U.S. legislation coverage for all states and military families alike.

David A. and Pam Schultz
13426 Copper Head Drive
Riverview, FL 33569
Email:

Telephone: (813) 654-1524

Together we can succeed for our nation’s children and their rights to grow up structurally health, happy, and productive members of our country. Additional information on plagiocephaly, other related craniofacial abnormalities, medical research, and parent support may be found at Dr. Kevin M. Kelly’s, Ph.D. (Biological Anthropologist) web site at www.plagiocephaly.org. Addition information on cranial orthotic banding (helmets), medical research, and parent support may be found at Cranial Technologies, Inc web site, the world recognized leaders of cranial orthotic devices and prescribed treatment for infants, toddlers, and children.

Sincerely,
David A. and Pamela A. Schultz (Republicans)
Plagiocephaly Parent Advocates