PACT DC Hill Day:
A Great Success!

One hundred and seventeen respiratory therapists from 46 states and the District of Columbia delivered our profession’s message to Capitol Hill this week: Support The Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act.

Your Political Advocacy Contact Team (PACT) representatives had over 300 scheduled meetings with members of Congress. Joining the respiratory therapists on the Hill visits were a dozen pulmonary patient advocates from our long time patient partner the COPD Foundation. In addition, over 30 respiratory therapy students from the Maryland, DC and Virginia area RT education programs came to the Hill meetings. They got to see firsthand just how dedicated Frank Salvatore, AARC Federal Government Affairs Committee Chair, is about passing this legislation. Salvatore reported at day’s end that over 20,000 messages had been sent to Congress in the past week by AARC members and our supporters.

The outpouring of support to the members of Congress before the RTs and patients “Hit the Hill” provided an assurance that the folks and voters back home really support the Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act.

Salvatore has one more message for all AARC members: “Keep writing—let your House Members and Senators know you are serious about wanting their support for our RT Initiative.”