Hanger Clinic’s Maggie Baumer Takes It to the Next Level to Improve Access to Orthotic and Prosthetic Care

Following a traumatic injury, Maggie Baumer, JD, became deeply involved in the orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) community. Now, she combines her legal expertise with healthcare knowledge to advocate for individuals with limb loss and limb difference, aiming to improve access to care and challenge insurance policies that restrict essential O&P services.

Maggie’s Story

In 2012, Maggie experienced a traumatic injury – her left arm was crushed at the elbow by a trash compactor in her apartment building. After about a month of limb salvage efforts, her healthcare team at Massachusetts General informed her they had done all they could to save her forearm and hand, but it needed to be amputated.

She was later connected with a peer visitor from Hanger Clinic’s AMPOWER program who was also missing his left forearm and hand from cancer. He showed Maggie what it was like to wear an upper limb prosthesis and perform everyday tasks.

“Meeting Mike was a pivotal moment for me, as I had been avoiding an identity as an ‘amputee’ up until that point. I soon became a peer visitor myself with AMPOWER. Eventually, an opportunity with Hanger Clinic opened up in my area for a Business Development Manager, and I jumped at the chance to join the team. It seemed like such a positive and purpose-driven field, and everyone I’d met had been so kind, so I saw it as an exciting opportunity to redirect my career path.”

Working to Change Policy

Combining her legal background with her healthcare expertise, Maggie became an advocate for improved access to O&P care. She champions initiatives like So Every BODY Can Move (SEBCM), which seeks to redefine what is considered medically necessary and advocates for the right to physical activity for individuals with limb loss.

“Through the SEBCM initiative, we have been pushing to pass legislation in multiple states that will change what is considered ‘medically necessary’. We believe that movement is medicine and access to physical activity is a right, not a privilege.

I plan to adopt the same spirit, backed by clinical reasoning and research, to increase coverage and access through Medicaid plans across the country.

In addition, I want to ensure that our team is well versed on the resources available to our patients within each state so we can best support them in accessing those resources.” 

Working to Change Policy in O&P Care

So Every BODY Can Move is an initiative to provide access to specialized orthotic and prosthetic care for physical activity.

Learn More

As a board member and past president of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP), Maggie has also played a significant role in fostering collaboration and advocating for positive workplace environments within the O&P community.

“Today, I use all those skills, as well as the knowledge I’ve gained through 10 years of working in the O&P space, to advocate for appropriate insurance policies, coverage, and reimbursement at the state and federal levels. I’m also working to educate people with limb loss and limb difference about the resources available to them in their communities and how to advocate for healthcare.”

Navigating Forward

Looking ahead, Maggie sees ample opportunities for advocacy and innovation within the O&P field, particularly in updating outdated policies and embracing technological advancements. Her vision emphasizes the importance of continued education, support, and coalition-building to ensure that individuals with limb loss receive the comprehensive care they deserve while maintaining a focus on empathy, service, and patient-centered care.

Read the full O&P Almanac article sharing Maggie’s story.