RCSW PACT Report - on the Hill 2016

by Michele Pedicone at RCSW.org

AARC PACTs getting ready for Hill Day 2016Hill Day 2016 was a tremendous success. Your RCSW PAC (Political Advisory Contact) Team was well represented by Eric Anderson, Earl Moore and Michele Pedicone. Gary Wickman, recovering from surgery, was cheering us on from the home front. Our focus this year was H.R. 2948, The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. Under this legislation, respiratory therapists would be recognized as providers of telehealth under Medicare. This bill is bi partisan and currently has 42 sponsors with 2 hailing from WA State, Derek Kilmer and Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Earl Moore, Eric Anderson, H.R. 2948 sponsor Congressman Derek Kilmer, and Michele Pedicone

The RCSW was one of only 18 state societies who had secured appointments with everyone of their state's Congressional offices - that's 12 appointments, folks - in one day in several different buildings. We were received very well and most Congressional offices were familiar with our bill.  This is directly attributable to you and the emails that you sent. Hearing from constituents fueled their interest.  That being said, OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. We need each of you to have more contact with your elected officials in D.C. Please encourage family, friends, co-workers, and patients to continue to send emails to Congress.  The more they hear about this bill, the more it is familiar to them, the better our chances are of it going to the next level.

Earl Moore, H.R. 2948 sponsor Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Michele Pedicone

Learn More About the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act

Email your Congress Representative and Senators

How to call and what to say to your Congress Representative and Senators

Thank you all

Michele P.

Earl Moore, Senator Patty Murray, and Michele Pedicone

The Political Advocacy Contact Team are individuals that have been appointed by their state respiratory therapy societies to be the key contacts for lobbying federal and state legislative issues.