As the voice and leading organization advocating for people living with an ostomy, UOAA is witness to the stories and experiences communicated by ostomates and understands the vital importance of access to quality ostomy care.

UOAA is of the opinion that access to an outpatient ostomy clinic improves quality of life and ensures an ostomate can achieve goals of care for prosthetic function to maintain health and wellness physically, emotionally, and financially. UOAA supports increasing outpatient services and ostomy clinics to fill the gap in care available to people living with ostomies.

UOAA Position Statement for Supporting Outpatient Ostomy Clinics

UOAA urges legislators and federal agency officials to implement policy and regulations that benefit patient-centered access to care, strengthen the patient-provider decision-making relationship, and minimize patient out-of-pocket costs.

In conjunction with the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) efforts we will continue to monitor any potential US healthcare reform and will work to ensure preservation of basic patient protections from the Affordable Care Act including eliminating insurer discrimination against pre-existing conditions, establishing out of pocket maximums for covered services, and allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. These protections have made it possible for persons living with an ostomy or continent diversion to obtain insurance coverage and protect them from stratospheric medical bills.

DDNC Copay Accumulators Patient Toolkit

Here is legislation that we will be supporting in the new 117th Congress:

Safe Step Act (S464/H.R.2163): This is a balanced public policy proposal that works to reform step therapy. The bill requires that insurers implement a clear and transparent process for a patient or physician to request an exception to a step therapy protocol. It also requires a group health plan respond to an exemption request within 72 hours in all circumstances, and 24 hours if the patient’s life is at risk.