American Therapeutic Recreation Association

founded in 1984

TO: All Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS)

EXECUTION DATE REQUESTED: November 30, 2007

SUBJECT: H.R. 4248 “The Ensuring Medicare Access To Recreational Therapy Act Of 2007” has been introduced in the United States House of Representatives

ACTION ALERT

Introduction of ATRA’s House Bill, H.R. 4248!!

“The Ensuring Medicare Access To Recreational Therapy Act Of 2007”

ACTION REQUESTED: The American Therapeutic Recreation Association asks you to contact your federal Representative to request their support for legislation to address RT policy by November 30, 2007. You can do so by phone, e-mail or letter.

Please Act Now!! Contact Your Members Of Congress!!

We need TO BUILD support FoR H.R. 4248 !!

The quicker WE SECURE MANY COSPONSERS,

the quicker WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR GOAL!!

When you receive CONfirmation that your RepreseNTative will sign on as a co-sponsor please report this by

emailing lmorgan@siskinrehab.org

Or calling 423-634-1674

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!

H.R. 4248 – BRIEF SUMMARY:

H.R. 4248 is the “The Ensuring Medicare Access To Recreational Therapy Act Of 2007” sponsored by Reps. Tauscher (D-CA) and English (R-PA).

Overview: The purpose of the bill is to help ensure that Medicare patients receive rehabilitation therapy services when such services are prescribed by their doctors and warranted by their health condition. This is done by directing CMS to publicly clarify current Medicare coverage and payment policy.

In specific:

The resolution directs CMS to issue notification in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual (or by regulation) that recreational therapy is a covered Medicare service in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs), and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).

In addition, it recognizes that the costs of providing recreational therapy services have already been built into the prospective payment systems for each of these three settings.

Finally, the resolution defines recreational therapy services as skilled rehabilitation therapy (not just diversional activities) that must be provided by a qualified recreational therapist when required by a patient’s condition and prescribed by a physician as part of a facility’s plan of care for the patient.

It is important to note that this resolution will not create new Medicare coverage or additional costs to the Medicare program because it would not add services to the Medicare program.

WHO TO CONTACT:

FOR PHONE CALLS:

Reach your Congressman through the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.

FOR E-MAILS AND FAXED LETTERS:

Log on to www.house.gov to locate the contact and e-mail information for your Representative. Once you get to a legislator’s website, use the “contact” button or menu pull-down to access fax and e-mail contact information.

“Web forms:” You will find that nearly all House Member websites have forms to fill out for constituent e-mails. When you get to these web forms, be sure to:

1) Fill out all the relevant boxes of requested information (this gives the office the means to process your e-mail efficiently);

2) Type in a header: “Attn: Healthcare LA” at the top of the space provided;

3) Next cut-and-paste your letter/message (see attachment) below the header; and

For Finding Congressmen: The initial House webpage you come to will have “boxes” at the top in the “brownish-colored” section.

If you know your Congressman, “click” on the middle box labeled “Representatives’ websites” and scroll down the list provided to find and select your Congressman. “Click” the “go” button to be sent to his/her website. Once on the website, find the “contact” button or menu pull-down to access the web form.

If you do not know your Congressman, have your zip code on hand (be sure to have the extra four digits as well since many congressional districts split the basic zip code zones). Then, in the boxes under “Find Your Representative,” fill out your zip code information. “Click” on the Congressman’s name to be sent to his/her website. Once on the website, find a “contact” button or menu pull-down to access the web form.

WHAT TO SAY OR WRITE:

FOR PHONE CALLS:

Note: When you talk to staff, you will not have a long time to discuss your request as they usually have very, busy schedules. Please be sure to cover the following proven steps to ensure all relevant details are covered, to optimize your time and to achieve a successful result.

Review this alert and the brief summary below (or the attached letter) so that you know what you want to say before you call.

Call the Congressional office, tell them you are a “constituent” (meaning you live in their state/district) and ask to speak to the “Healthcare Legislative Assistant.” This person will handle requests involving our issue.

Note: Try not to let the receptionist simply record your address and concerns as all that will be accomplished is that you will receive a mailed letter response. What you want is to talk to the staffer responsible for this bill.

Begin by identifying yourself, your profession and/or any facility that you work with; this demonstrates up front that you are a significant constituent/voter for that congressional office.

Then, summarize the bill (using the summary below) and what it means to you and ATRA. Focus on what is most relevant to you as the more comfortable you are with your message, the better it will be relayed.

Most importantly, ask for the Congressman to “cosponsor” the bill. This is your “ask” and forgetting to make it is the biggest mistake made by advocates!

FOR E-MAILS AND LETTERS:

We suggest putting the attached letter to the attention of the “Healthcare Legislative Assistant.” This person will handle requests involving our issue.

Personalize the draft letter in the space provided by identifying yourself and describing your profession, and/or any facility that you work with and then the organization (ATRA); all of which demonstrates up front that you are a significant constituent/voter of that legislative office. You can also summarize what the bill means to you, your practice and/or facility.

Then either fax your letter to your Congressman or attach the text of your letter to the email/web form you send to your Congressman.

Note: We suggest e-mails and faxes over regular postal mail as there is considerable delay (weeks) in receipt of postal mail in Congressional offices due to increased security.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!