Save the Date: February 29 - March 1, 2012
Washington, D.C.
Why Participate?
"What I loved about being in DC was realizing the difference every citizen can make and how easy it is to have your voice heard. It may not mean they will do it your way, but every voice matters, and I saw that firsthand. It will be my 3rd time to walk the halls and meet w leaders ... Can't wait!!!"
- Past DOTH Participant
If you have been following Medicare regulation changes over the past year, you are aware that CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) allows hospital outpatient services to use non-physician practitioners to provide some aspects of direct physician supervision. However, CMS does not allow cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation the same flexibility due to legislative language. Therefore, it is necessary for Congress to instruct CMS through legislation that the intent of Public Law 110-275 was not to restrict cardiac and pulmonary rehab services to supervision by MD or DO only.
DOTH 2012 will focus on asking your U.S. Congressional members in the House and Senate to support a bill (bill # coming soon) that includes legislative language to correct this misinterpretation by CMS. As important as this issue is for CR and PR programs, also crucial is your on-going relationship with your legislators. AACVPR members have been tapped and these relationships have been used frequently by AACVPR when issues and needs come up throughout the year. As we have all come to understand, Medicare coverage will never be a “done deal”, but will continue to be an evolution of improved policy if we all pay attention to what is going on in Washington, DC.
CLICK HERE to register for 2012 Day on the Hill.
Select "DOTH 2012" from the list of events. There is no cost to register.
Attendee Preparatory Instructions:
1. Book your hotel room early as there is limited space reserved for this event.
Where to Stay:
Sheraton National
900 S. Orme Street
Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: 888/512-5830
Room Rate: $199 (s/d)
The Hotel Cut Off date: February 1, 2012
For those who want to book online please Click Here or call (800) 325-3535. Please mention AACVPR to get the discounted rate.
The deadline to book your hotel has been extended to February 9, 2012. Book today!
If you are interested in sharing a room with another DOTH attendee, please contact Abigail Lynn (alynn@aacvpr.org) to make arrangements.
How to Get There:
The closest airport to the Sheraton National Hotel is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). There is a courtesy shuttle that runs from DCA to the hotel every 30 minutes from 6:00am - 11:00pm.
2. Reagan National Airport is closest to the District and has a metro line. Dulles International Airport is farther out and offers a Metro bus service. BWI has train service into the District (plan for about 1-2 hours).
Preparations:
3. Attendee Teleconference
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
1 pm ET (12 pm CT, 11 am MT and 10 am PT)
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, February 29th
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm*
- What your Day on the Hill will be like
- In-depth discussion on the Issues
- Talking points
- Role-playing
- Congressional Directories (with maps, office locations, and names) will be distributed
- Guest Speaker: Gary Capistrant, Legislative Analyst for the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) will present “Tele-medicine/tele-rehab”
About the Speaker:
Gary Capistrant's expertise in health policy is based on over 30 years experience with Medicare, Medicaid, and national health reforms. Mr. Capistrant's knowledge of health policy has lead him to become a trusted advisor to associations, innovative health providers and Wall Street investment analysts. He is also the former Director of Congressional Relations for the American Health Care Association, Staff Director of the State Medicaid Directors Association and Health Legislative Assistant for former Rep. Jim Corman. Mr. Capistrant earned a M.A. degree in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota and he also earned a B.A from the University. AACVPR CEU’s will be available for this educational presentation. Credit hours are TBD.
*There are several restaurant options available. Click here to see a list of local restaurants to try for dinner before the Wednesday night program.
Thursday, March 1
On your own Congressional appointments
Past attendees have scheduled appointments for Wednesday AND Thursday, some arriving Tuesday evening. Should you wish to do this, the hotel rate for Tuesday night will be $199. Please let us know as soon as possible should you need a room for Tuesday night by sending an email to aacvpr@aacvpr.org.
AACVPR leadership wants to ensure a positive experience for all. If you are a first-timer or the sole representative from your state, we will partner you with a “seasoned DOTHer” to help you get off to a smooth start.
Due to varying Congressional appointment schedules and flights out of DC on Thursday, it is logistically impossible to hold a follow-up meeting on Thursday afternoon or evening. However, you will receive a survey shortly after arriving home and we are very dependent on your feedback in shaping the next annual DOTH event. Your participation in this survey is valued and greatly appreciated.
Revised Congressional Appointment Tips:
How to find your US Representative and two US Senators
For the contact information of your two Senators, use this link:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
For the contact information of your US House of Representative, this link will ask you to enter your zip code and then it will identify your District and Representative:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Meeting Request-the Ask
You do not have to go into great detail about the purpose of the meeting when requesting an appointment, either by phone or email. It is enough to simply say it is in reference to a health care issue, specifically cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and concerns the need for a technical correction for CMS (thus, the bill) and ensuring continued patient access to these services. Ask for a meeting with the Congressional member or with his/her health staff person if the member is not available on that day.
Appointment Considerations
- You are representing cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation for your state’s providers and patients. While in DC, attendees often visit US Representatives outside their own district in this capacity and that is very appropriate.
- When an appointment was not achievable, past attendees have found that a “drop-in” visit to that office is often successful in speaking with a staff member (or the congressional member him/herself). Even stopping in to provide the “leave-behind” piece and obtaining the health staffer’s business card, if face-to-face time is not possible, helps in the follow-up call the next week to discuss our issues with that staffer.
- Keep Trying. In the words of our esteemed past-president, Murray Low, “Persistence, persistence, persistence.”
- Your first call will be to obtain the name and direct phone # or email of the staff person responsible for health issues. Sometimes you can immediately speak with this person, sometimes it requires an initial email contact. Every office operates by its own rules.
- In your voice mail or email, let the person know you will contact him/her again on ___date if you do not hear back from him/her within ___ days (3-5 is fair).
- Follow-up when you said you would and keep trying until you are successful in obtaining the appointment time. Generally, appointments are scheduled for 10-15 minutes slots and that is adequate time to make your points, wrap up, and discuss your follow-up plan with the staffer.
- As you make your appointments, keep in mind it is a 20-minute walk between US House of Representative buildings and the Senate buildings. To view a map of the area and the buildings, please CLICK HERE.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes - you will be glad you did.
DOTH Resources for 2012
Archived DOTH Resources for 2011
2011 Communications
DOTH Resources for 2010