AACVPR REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE
FEBRUARY 19, 2008

Congress Needs Patient Support for
The Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2008

Are your patients aware of what is at risk if HR 552/S.329 is not passed? Have you asked them to write or call their congressional member in the U.S. House of Representatives? Has that U.S. Representative heard from those who we are doing this for--our patients? Have your state’s two U.S. senators heard from everyone who receives and provides these services?

In less than two weeks, over 80 members of AACVPR and its’ Affiliate societies will travel to Washington, D.C. to represent you and your patients in asking for support of this bill. If enough constituents (voters!) have asked for co-sponsorship, the issue is much more likely to have the proper attention by the legislator and result in support. If only one or a few professionals have made this request, it will be lost in the plethora of issues that congressional members are asked to consider every day.

How important is this to you? If you and your patients have not taken action recently, please do so immediately by going to the AACVPR Web page. This is so simple; it takes less than five minutes to do!

Time is of the essence in assuring that this provision is included in the next Medicare bill being discussed in Congress right now. Having a majority of co-sponsorship is our best assurance of success. We have the powerful voice of our patients--please help them take action, send a letter or make a call, or call your affiliate leadership and ask what you can do to help.

Karen Lui, R.N., M.S.
(FL phn) 239-768-6412
(DC phn) 703-752-4353
Karen@GRQConsulting.com