We’re rebooting AARC Virtual Lobby Week from July 17 to July 26 and we need your help to advocate for Congress to move forward on H.R. 2948, the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act.

This past March AARC called on respiratory therapists and supporters of the respiratory care profession to rally ‘round support of the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act, which we expected to be reintroduced in the new Congress, by sending e-mails to members of Congress using our Capitol Connection website link. Well over 20,000 messages were sent to “The Hill” and it has started to work.

On July 7, 2015, bi-partisan members of the House of Representatives took the next step by introducing H.R. 2948, the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act. Now it is time to focus on asking your House of Representative members to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 2948 and your Senators to support introduction of a Senate companion bill.

H.R. 2948, the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act will positively impact respiratory therapists and the respiratory care profession and profoundly help Medicare pulmonary patients. The bill adds respiratory therapists to the Medicare statute as qualified telehealth providers. It also covers respiratory services via a telehealth delivery system and remote patient monitoring services for certain chronic conditions that include COPD.

So go to the AARC’s Capitol Connection site and send your email to Congress today. It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s important!