Advocacy

MSRC Continues Fight to Preserve RT License

As you may recall, in 2012 the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR), released a report that addressed the status of the state's licensing of professions.  The report ultimately concluded that several licenses and many regulations should be eliminated or de-regulated.  Among them was the license for respiratory therapists.  In response, the MSRC crafted a letter to Governor Snyder and met with several elected leaders.  The result was that the license was not deregulated last year.  However, legislative efforts are under way to re-evaluate the ORR report and licensing once again. 

While the respiratory therapist license is a relatively new license in Michigan, it is a vital license within our state’s healthcare system.  The MSRC supports efforts to make Michigan a healthier state with a world class healthcare system.  In order for Michigan residents to maintain a safe and trustworthy healthcare system, Michigan needs to rely on licensed, professional respiratory therapists.  Therefore, the MSRC respectfully requests the deregulation of the respiratory care profession be removed from further consideration and excluded from any legislation related to the ORR report.

Though there is not currently any legislation to deregulate the RT license, policy leaders are in the process of reviewing all licensing regulations and especially those named within the ORR report.  If the MSRC is to be successful in its fight to preserve the respiratory therapist license and the status of respiratory therapists across the state, it will be up to ALL respiratory therapists to join and help the MSRC. 

The MSRC is not alone in this fight and the MSRC has support from other related professional associations such as:

  • Alpha-1 Association
  • American Association for Respiratory Care
  • American College of Chest Physicians
  • American Thoracic Society
  • COPD Foundation
  • Michigan Thoracic Society
  • National Board for Respiratory Care
  • American Association for Respiratory Care
  • American Thoracic Society
  • Michigan Thoracic Society

Support the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act'

Support the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act'
Virtual Lobby Week 
March 4th-11th  2013
Your 2013 MSRC Political Advocacy Contact Team (PACT)  
is heading to Capitol Hill and we need your support!
On Tuesday, March 12th, Jeremy Bainbridge, Laurie Niemer and Teena Culhane will be representing the RT's and patients with lung disease of Michigan by meeting with representatives from both Senate offices and all 14 Congressional offices in support of our 2013 initiative, the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Act'. This legislation would allow qualified RT's  to provide 'pulmonary self-management education and training services' to Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of COPD (chronic bronchitis/emphysema), asthma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic and pulmonary fibrosis, in the physician practice setting. 
AARC strongly believes that the Medicare program can no longer continue with the status quo in the delivery of health care for patients suffering from chronic lung disease. These patients do not receive the necessary tools in order to effectively  manage their condition which leads to multiple ER visits, hospitalizations, re-admissions and ultimately, increased health care costs.
With this legislation, we are hoping to position RT's to be at the forefront of initiatives that improve quality care and keep pulmonary patients healthier! We want Congress to know that RT's make a significant impact in the lives of patients who suffer from chronic lung disease. We possess the necessary  skills, knowledge and expertise to provide effective self-management tools to these patients, resulting in the reduction of acute care interventions,  health care costs, hospitalizations and re-admission rates.  
In support of the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act' we are asking that you please take 2 minutes to contact both Senators and your District Representative now! 

Virtual Lobby Week 
March 4th-11th  2013

 

Your 2013 MSRC Political Advocacy Contact Team (PACT)  is heading to Capitol Hill and we need your support!

On Tuesday, March 12th, Jeremy Bainbridge, Laurie Niemer and Teena Culhane will be representing the RT's and patients with lung disease of Michigan by meeting with representatives from both Senate offices and all 14 Congressional offices in support of our 2013 initiative, the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Act'. This legislation would allow qualified RT's  to provide 'pulmonary self-management education and training services' to Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of COPD (chronic bronchitis/emphysema), asthma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic and pulmonary fibrosis, in the physician practice setting. 

AARC strongly believes that the Medicare program can no longer continue with the status quo in the delivery of health care for patients suffering from chronic lung disease. These patients do not receive the necessary tools in order to effectively  manage their condition which leads to multiple ER visits, hospitalizations, re-admissions and ultimately, increased health care costs.

With this legislation, we are hoping to position RT's to be at the forefront of initiatives that improve quality care and keep pulmonary patients healthier! We want Congress to know that RT's make a significant impact in the lives of patients who suffer from chronic lung disease. We possess the necessary  skills, knowledge and expertise to provide effective self-management tools to these patients, resulting in the reduction of acute care interventions,  health care costs, hospitalizations and re-admission rates.  

In support of the 'Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act' we are asking that you please take 2 minutes to contact both Senators and your District Representative now! 

Click here to view the AARC Virtual Lobby Week site.

 

Donate to MSRC PAC

In order for our profession and our lobbyists to have all the tools necessary to help preserve the RT license, the MSRC needs your help to revitalize the MSRC PAC.  Please click here to download a contribution form.

 

 

Respiratory Legislation Continues to Need Your Support

Momentum is building in Congress for our Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative, legislation that would permit qualified RTs to work in a physician’s office without the doctor being on site. Now we need to keep that momentum going with more letters, calls, and emails to our members of Congress. Click on the link to find out why this legislation is so important to your future and how you can let your Congressional members know you support it.