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Join in Virtual Lobby WeekThe American Association for Respiratory Care is having a Virtual Lobby Week from Friday, February 25 through Tuesday, March 8 and we need you to join in . On March 8 respiratory therapists and pulmonary patients from across the country will be in Washington, D.C. to lobby their Congressional delegations for support for the Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative, legislation that will provide pulmonary patients greater access to respiratory therapists in doctors offices. Before these grass root volunteers hit the halls of Congress on March 8 we want to pave the way for them by flooding members of Congress, both Senators and House Members with a reminder that we need Hill support for our legislation. Besides hearing from respiratory therapists, it’s very important that members of Congress hear from patients, family and friends and caregivers. Senators and Representatives listen intently to voters from home and especially from those of you whose health can be improved when respiratory therapists directly assist you. If you have access to a computer you can join the effort from anywhere you are. Go to our Virtual Lobby Week page (link to VL Week main page) to read all about the day and learn how easy it is to participate in this important event. Here’s the background on the Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative legislation. When Medicare was created 45 years ago, very few respiratory therapy services were provided outside of the hospital. However, times and respiratory medicine has significantly changed, but Medicare, at least in terms of respiratory therapy has not. Now, there are important services such as smoking cessation and asthma management, medication management and other doctor's office available that should be offered by health care professionals such as the respiratory therapist. The Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative would revise the Medicare program to permit certain highly qualified respiratory therapists to provide the types of services mentioned above to Medicare patients without the physician having to physically be in the office. Respiratory therapists would still be under physician supervision, but if our legislation becomes law, qualified respiratory therapists could provide services as a physician's extender, and not have to have the doctor always on site. This is good for the doctor, good for the respiratory therapist and most importantly good for you the pulmonary patient. |
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