Virtual Lobby Week Heralds Respiratory Day in Washington
(Irving, TX - Feb. 28, 2013) Respiratory therapists, appointed as Political Advocacy Contact Team members by their states, head to Washington, D.C. March 12 to lobby their Congressional delegations seeking support for the Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act.
This important initiative, when passed by Congress, will take a small but critically important step of inserting respiratory therapists into Medicare law. Specifically, this initiative will allow qualified respiratory therapists to provide pulmonary self-management education and training services for Medicare patients diagnosed with certain chronic lung diseases in the physician office practice.
To launch this important advocacy initiative prior to AARC's Hill Lobby Day, when over 120 RTs will go to DC, the organization is hosting a Virtual Lobby Week where they are asking respiratory therapists, RT students and other interested individuals, to send emails of support using the AARC's Capitol Connection .
"Your help can go a long way to making our efforts in DC successful, and all interested individuals are urged to send their letters to Congress," said Frank Salvatore, RRT, chair of the AARC's Federal Government Affairs Committee.
More information is available on at AARC.org under the Government Affairs link.
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About the AARC
The American Association for Respiratory Care is a 52,000 member professional association of respiratory care professionals. The organization is dedicated to encouraging and promoting professional excellence, advancing the science of respiratory care, and serving as an advocate for patients, their families and the public.Further information about the AARC and how to become a respiratory therapist are available at: www.AARC.org.
Contact: Sherry Milligan
972-406-4656
milligan@aarc.org
