Government Affairs News
AARC Participates in Patient Events
May 15, 2000
The AARC participated in two events designed to draw congressional attention to the needs of asthma patients, and patients with emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The first event on Capitol Hill was the annual Asthma Awareness Day sponsored by the Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc. (AAN-MA). The AARC has participated in this event for the past three years by providing testing and information for attendees.Through the volunteerism of Tom Kallstrom, RRT, FAARC, Linda Smith, BS, RRT, Linda Stone, RRT, CPFT, and their staff and students, respiratory therapy was well represented at this event. In addition, AARC's presence at this event was aided by Monaghan Medical Corp. in providing peak flow meters, and by a Mallinckrodt Inc. representative's assistance with testing attendees.
The second event, also on Capitol Hill, was sponsored by EFFORTS (Emphysema Foundation for Our Right to Survive). New to the AARC, EFFORTS is a non-profit organization made up of patients with COPD, their caregivers, and health providers. EFFORTS supports research for more effective treatment of emphysema and related lung diseases. The AARC urged EFFORTS members to become involved in discussions at the state level regarding allocation of funds from the state tobacco settlement. Clint Swanson, MA, RRT, Director of Ventilator and Pulmonary Programs for UVA-Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital made a brief presentation as did representatives from the American Lung Association and Mallinckrodt Inc.
Local Medical Review Policy Web Site Now Available
April 26, 2000
As part of the American Association for Respiratory Care's efforts to focus the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) on the practice of issuing local medical review policies (LMRPs) (state coverage policies for Medicare services) the agency agreed to review all LMRPs that have been issued by Fiscal Intermediaries, or Medicare contractors, for Part A Medicare Services, and "Carrier" for Medicare Part B Services. The firm HCFA contracted to do the LMRP research has put its findings onto a Web site: http://www.lmrp.net. To find information on respiratory therapy services and LMRPs go to this home page, then click the "search" button. Type in "respiratory therapy" and Fiscal Intermediaries (where most of the respiratory therapy LMRPS are issued.)For our purposes, we searched all fiscal years and found that there are 770 references to respiratory therapy in the LMRP database. You can narrow your search to just your state if you wish. We finally have access to those policies that have such an impact on the profession but have been so hard to actually find.