AARC Virtual Lobby Campaign

H.R. 2508, the Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act, (the BREATHE Act)

As a follow-up up to a very successful Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill April 9, 2019, and our previous Virtual Lobby Campaigns in which we set new records both in the number of advocates who participated and the number of messages sent to the Hill, we are excited to continue advocacy for our bill which was officially introduced in Congress on May 2, 2019 by Representative Mike Thompson (D/CA) and three co-sponsors — Representatives TJ Cox (D/CA), Mike Kelly (R/PA) and Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R/GA).

To recap, this legislation is a 3-year pilot that allows respiratory therapists to furnish disease management services, such as self-management education and training, demonstration/evaluation of proper inhaler techniques, smoking cessation and remote patient monitoring to Medicare beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Its purpose is to demonstrate the value RTs bring to the health care system and their patients through improved health outcomes and lower costs and to identify RTs as telehealth practitioners in the Medicare statute.

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Why this is important

Officially known as the Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act, H.R.  2508 will support a three-year pilot project allowing qualified respiratory therapists (RTs) to serve as telehealth practitioners to deliver disease management services to Medicare beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Two important messages

• Message #1: Ask your House members to co-sponsor the BREATHE Act in the House.
  
• Message #2: Ask your Senators to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 2508 in the Senate. 

Your voice matters

You are the voice of respiratory care. Sharing your voice can help ensure the success of this legislation.

Thank you for your support and for the dedication you give each day to your patients and the profession.

Share Your Voice Today!