Access Win — Maryland moves broader prosthetic coverage into law

Maryland’s 2026 “So Every Body Can Move Act” was approved by the governor on May 26. Beginning January 1, 2027, the law expands requirements for certain public and private health coverage involving orthoses and prostheses and clarifies coverage for prostheses medically necessary for daily living, essential job activities, and specified physical activities. It is not a national fix, but it is a concrete example of policy trying to match coverage to actual life.

Access Failure — federal external review is temporarily unavailable for some plans

HealthCare.gov says the HHS-administered federal external review process has been temporarily unavailable since July 1, 2026, for certain plans in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin, and U.S. territories other than Puerto Rico. People affected are told to follow their plan notices and watch for updates.

Research Worth Watching — rehabilitation guidance gets a 2026 clinician’s guide

A July 2026 publication summarizes the VA/DoD lower-limb-amputation clinical practice guideline, which contains 26 recommendations supporting evidence-based, interdisciplinary, patient-centered rehabilitation across phases of care.

Research Worth Watching — osseointegration recovery over the first 12 months

A small prospective study of ten participants with transfemoral amputation reported improvements in gait economy at 3, 6, and 12 months after a press-fit percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis procedure. Small study, specialized population, not a universal answer — but a first-year recovery trajectory worth following.

Opportunity — adaptive sport keeps expanding

Move United says its 2026 sanctioned calendar includes 36 competitions in 25 states, serving athletes across nearly 20 adaptive sports. CAF separately reported more than 4,000 grants totaling over $7 million in its 2026 distribution.

Madness Meter: 8.1 / 10

We have advanced prosthetic research, expanding adaptive sport, state-level coverage wins — and an insurance external-review system that is temporarily unavailable in several places. Civilization remains technically operational.

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