Join in Virtual Lobby Week

The American Association for Respiratory Care is having a Virtual Lobby Week from Monday March 28 through April 15th and we need you to join in.

On April 12th over 130 respiratory therapists and pulmonary patients from across the country will be in Washington, DC to lobby their Congressional delegations for support of the HR 2948 Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. This important piece of legislation expands coverage of telehealth services to include respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners, coverage of respiratory services, and remote patient monitoring and training for patients with COPD via an interactive telecommunications system that permits real-time communication between practitioners and beneficiaries who are at different locations.

Before these grass root volunteers hit the halls of Congress, 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 the HR 2948 The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act.  A number of respiratory therapists who will be on Capitol Hill on April 12th  will be “tweeting” about their experiences as they happen. You can follow their updates at the Virtual Lobby Week site.

Besides hearing from respiratory therapists, it’s very important that members of Congress hear from patients, family, friends and caregivers. Senators and House Members listen intently to voters from home and especially from those whose health can be improved when they have greater access to respiratory therapists.

If you have access to a computer you can join the effort from anywhere. Go to our Capitol Connection site to read all about the legislative initiative and learn how easy it is to participate in this important event. We have provided a number of letters pegged to the writer, namely, messages to be sent by respiratory therapists, physicians, patients, caregivers, respiratory therapy students, supporters and friends. These letters can all be edited by you as you see fit or sent as is.

It’s simple, it’s easy and it’s important.