Agency on Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
Continue to support availability of grant monies for respiratory/pulmonary disease studies.Appropriations:
- Work to increase federal funds to schools of allied health.
- Work to increase federal funds for pediatric pulmonary centers.
- Work to increase federal funds for the Ryan White AIDS Act.
CFC-Free Metered Dose Inhalers
Continue to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a coalition of public health associations toward developing a reasonable transition schedule to phase out MDIs using CFC agents.
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988
Continue to monitor any regulatory changes in CLIA requirements to maintain the RCPs role in blood gas, physiological labs and diagnostic labs.
Conditions of Participation/Home Health Agencies
Continue to encourage HHAs to amend their COPs, which permit nurses and physical therapists to perform and provide respiratory therapy home care visits.
FDA Device Reporting Requirements
Continue to monitor the FDAs requirements for adverse reactions to devices and update RCPs on any changes in the regulatory structure.
Fraud and Abuse
The AARC advocates efforts that reduce fraud and abuse in health care.
Health Care Financing Administration/Health & Human Services Studies
Participate in congressional mandated studies assessing home oxygen quality and access to services, and provide the RC community's input as needed.
HCPC and CPT-4 Coding
Advocate adoption by HCFA and the AMA of more medically relevant pulmonary codes.
Home Health Services
Assure patient access to the services of respiratory therapists in the home.
- December 20, 1999, AARC Comments on Proposed Regulation Implementing a Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
- October 28, 1999, Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rule on Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
Home Medical Equipment (HME)
Advocate HME Standards of Service when providing home oxygen therapy with appropriate reimbursement.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HCFA's new HBO therapy policy threatens the jobs of respiratory therapists. The AARC has made speaking out against this policy a priority.
Lung Reduction Surgery
Continue to monitor the study of lung reduction surgery sites. Advocate establishment of more sites if patient outcomes continue to be positive.
Managed Care
Fight against inappropriate reductions in Medicare HMO payments, which may prevent the managed care organizations from offering additional services such as providing non-hospital based RCPs to their Medicare participants.
Medicare Cuts and Policy Changes
Remain aware of general Medicare issues and those that are directly and indirectly related to respiratory care.
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP)
Through our representatives, encourage the use of RCPs in the management and treatment of asthma.
Outpatient Care Issues
Assure respiratory therapy is adequately reimbursed and covered under the prospective payment system.
Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information
Professional Services
Continue to advocate for Medicare coverage of RCP professional services as a Medicare benefit across all care sites.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Continue to provide information to HCFA in the effort to secure a national coverage policy for outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation.
RTs in the Military
Continue efforts to seek commission status for RCPs serving in the military.
Salary Equivalency Guidelines
These are federal payment guidelines used by Medicare to pay for Medicare contract services.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Assure respiratory therapy and RCPs will be adequately reimbursable and covered under the prospective payment system.
- Fight efforts of the Medicare Intermediaries to reclassify RT services from skilled to routine, thus denying a Medicare beneficiary access to an RCP.
Telehealth
The AARC advocates inclusion of respiratory therapists in all federal policies providing telehealth services.
Tobacco Control
Support comprehensive tobacco control bill and bills which strengthen FDA authority to regulate tobacco products and the EPA's authority to support Clean Indoor Act regulations.
Tuberculosis Programs
Participate in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Public Health Services' (PHS) efforts to expand TB programs to the most vulnerable populations.
Veterans Administration
Continue to advocate increased grade pay levels for RCPs working in the VA to alleviate recruitment and retention problems.
