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Health Policy Ensures Access to Care and Addresses the Needs of Those Living with Chronic Conditions
The Association’s Board of Directors sets the annual advocacy agenda. The Alpha-1 Association contracts with Miriam O'Day to handle Legislative and Regulatory affairs. One way to ensure that the interest of our constituency is heard in the legislative process is to harness our collective power in an organized grass roots lobbying effort.
2008 Public Policy Agenda
Following are the recommendations from the Public Policy Working Group and adopted by the Alpha-1 Association and Alpha-1 Foundation Board of Directors as priority issues for 2008:
- Seek home Health Home Infusion benefit specifically for Alpha-1 Medicare beneficiaries;
- Support legislation introduced by Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Congressman Phil English (R-PA) to require Medigap parity in all 50 States;
- Support and endorse Sen. Crapo (R-ID) and Congressman Pickering (R-MS) legislation to codify pulmonary rehabilitation as a Medicare benefit;
- Support the American Association for Respiratory Care legislative initiative to recognize Respiratory Therapists in Medicare Part B.;
- Support change in regulations regarding portable oxygen concentrators as carry-on for air passengers. Collaboration with the Airline Oxygen Council of America (AOCA);
- Continue federal funding appropriations strategy to enhance research and promote targeted detection;
- Engage Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to recognize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as the 4th leading cause of death;
- Monitor Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Organ Allocation system to ensure that it does not disadvantage Alphas.
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