Bill breathes life into telehealth for respiratory therapy
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue May 7, 2019
WASHINGTON - A bill to encourage the use of telehealth by registered respiratory therapists has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., TJ Cox, D-Calif., Earl Carter, R-Ga., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., on May 2 introduced H.R. 5208, which would establish a pilot program that allows registered respiratory therapists, under the supervision of a physician, to provide certain telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries with COPD. "The American Association of Respiratory Care is very excited with the introduction of the BREATHE Act,” said Anne Marie Hummel, associate executive director for advocacy and government affairs. “Recognition of respiratory therapists by Medicare is long overdue.” The AARC has been working for more than a year to get the bill introduced. In April, it hosted a lobbying day that resulted in 326 meetings on Capitol Hill. The association is currently in the process of developing a Congressional sign-on letter and identifying possible sponsors to introduce a Senate companion bill, says Hummel.
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