PACT FACT

By Joe Dwan, co-chair

The AARC Political Action team has been very active representing the AARC and the OSRC membership. These are but a few of the national and state issues that we are tracking. We would like to recruit you to help us influence the political forces affecting our profession. If enough of us speak up about the issues, we will be heard. Contact myself, Janet Sale (co-chair), or your regional director for details.

Oregon: House Bill 2247 opens the Respiratory Care Licensure Act and was sponsored by Gov. Kitzhaber for the Oregon Health Licensing Office (OHL), based upon recommendations by the Attorney General's opinion. Briefly, HB2247 will give the OHL the authority to enforce the law. The Oregon Hospital and Health Systems Association has successfully lobbied to remove the diversion program from the new bill. Details of the bill: www.leg.state.or.us/01reg/measures/hb2200.dir/hb2247.a.html 2/13 HOUSE, HB2247 had a public hearing & work session
2/20 recommendation of "Do Pass with amendments" and be printed with "A-Engrossed" (changes)
2/22 second reading
2/23 Read third time under Consent Calendar. Passed Ayes 53, Excused 7
2/26 SENATE, First reading, referred to Presidents desk
2/28 referred to Health & Human Services
3/9 Public Hearing and Work Session held.
3/15 Recommendation: Do Pass the A-Eng. Bill. Second reading.
3/16 Third Reading. Carried by Messerle. Passed. Ayes 27, excused 3.
Next step is for Governor Kitzhaber to sign the bill into law, which is expected. Thanks to all RCPs who contacted their legislators in support of HB 2247!

SB 789 is an OR Senate bill to promote asthma care for people of color. We are also watching HB 2251 and SB 246, sponsored by the State Nursing Board.

Tobacco Settlement Monies: The OSRC is a member of the Coalition for a Healthy Future who is attempting in influence legislators to spend these monies on health care. There are many groups competing for these big dollars. The Coalition supports 20% for tobacco prevention, education & enforcement; 20% for low-income long-term senior care; and 60% for low-income health care for adults and children. Contact your state legislator; ask for their support of the OSRC & Coalition's plan for these monies. We're talking about $94 million dollar a year.

National
Medicare Reform-Congress is moving towards revamping HCFA this spring, by researching alternatives to the current resource utilization groups (RUGS) and minimum data set (MDS) assessments as the basis for Medicare SNF payments. The AARC is a member of NASL (Nat'l Association for the Support of Long Term Care), who is involved in this process.

States lose $197million in Tobacco Settlement Funds, including Oregon, for failing to pass specific legislation by last years deadline.

Hyperbaric Oxygen: There is increased scrutiny of charges after the Office of Inspector General (OIG) audits found $19.1M in questionable billing out of $49.9 million billed for this service.

O2 Recertification-HCFA revision of Transmittal 1685 concerning the retesting of Group I and Group II pts for recertification. Current regs call for 61-90 days for retesting after initial O2 set-up. The AARC met with HCFA recently, where they expressed concern over the elimination of coverage for oximetry testing in the outpt setting. The AARC pointed out that a lack of retesting options would create a patient access problem to medically necessary home O2. HCFA replied they have no evidence of access problems. See www.aarc.org/members_area/advocacy/federal/oxygen_recertification.html

PPS for inpatient rehab facilities has been delayed "indefinitely".

Medical Error Reporting: Last year, 8 states passed laws on med errors. Other states and Congress are also looking at this high profile issue. See www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_01/prsb0312.htm

Source for smoking cessation data, which is useful when speaking to state legislators is www.americanlegacyfoundation.org

2/26 HCFA Regs call RTs "Professionals", a term usually reserved for professions requiring a 4 year degree. This may seem insignificant, but it isn't in terms of recognizing and valuing our profession.

This is just a quick summary of some of the issues the AARC and the OSRC are working on. This is part of the value of membership in the AARC/OSRC!