The following 2009-2010 Public Policy agenda has been adopted by the Alpha-1 Association and Alpha-1 Foundation Board of Directors as priority issues for 2010: 

• Monitor the implementation of health care reform legislation: the Health Patient Protection act of 2010 and address issues that may arise on behalf of the Alpha-1 Community.

• Support Medigap Parity which will allow all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of age and disability to be eligible for Medigap Coverage in every state.

• Support elimination of the two-year waiting period for Medicare Disability.

• Encourage inclusion of Alpha-1 in Compassionate Allowances for Social Security Income (SSI) Disability.  This is a list of diseases that are recognized by Social Security for disability benefits and will not require individuals to engage in an appeals process as they will no longer be denied.

• Support the American Association for Respiratory Care legislative initiative to recognize Respiratory Therapists in Medicare Part B.

• Continue federal funding appropriations strategies to enhance Alpha-1 research and promote targeted detection.

• Enhance federal response to COPD including a designated program Engage Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to recognize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as the 4th leading cause of death by establishing a designated program in the CDC Chronic Disease Division.

• Monitor Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Organ Allocation system to ensure that it does not disadvantage Alphas who require lung transplants.

• Seek Home Health Infusion benefit specifically for Alpha-1 Medicare beneficiaries.  To expand an area of Medicare coverage requires an act of Congress.  The Association continues to explore legislative models to address this issue.

• Support legislative and regulatory policies that will promote the development of urgently needed new therapeutics.

• Ensure the safety of blood products in the United States.