(February 17, 2009) There is new legislation, HR 1077 and S 343, that has just been introduced in Congress that would change the Medicare law to allow certain highly qualified respiratory therapists to provide much-needed services to pulmonary patients.

HR 1077 is the House of Representatives version of the bill, while S 343 is the Senate version. The official name of both bills, which are identical to one another, is The Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative. This Initiative would let respiratory therapists work under the general supervision of a doctor and would therefore allow respiratory therapists to provide services without having to have the doctor in the immediate office area. This is similar to the way nurses and physical therapists deliver services.

If Medicare makes this change it would allow greater flexibility for the doctor to delegate responsibilities to the respiratory therapist in order to have them offer important services that will help you, the patient, and your family manage your respiratory disease better.

We urge you to write to your Senators and Representatives asking them to co-sponsor and pass this vital piece of legislation. We have an easy-to-use email system that will allow you to send your email to your U.S. Representative and your two Senators. We’ve included a draft message, but the more original you make it the more impact it will have. You may type over and edit the template letter we’ve included in our system that we call Capitol Connection.

Your efforts will help Medicare beneficiaries to gain greater access to the respiratory therapist who provides the services pulmonary patients need.