Updated Regulations Published and Adopted - August 2011

The Board of Respiratory Care has published the adopted regulations to the updated statutes. These changes reflect the new regulations for continuing education and delegation of services.

Delegation by a Respiratory Care Practitioner to Unlicensed Persons; Approval of Continuing Education Programs, Courses, Seminars and Articles; Determination of Credits; Performance-Based Competency Assessment; Approval; Determination of Credits; Licensee Certification of Compliance; Recordkeeping; Audit.

Read the regulations here.

AARC - What's Next for Pulmonary Rehab Coverage?

RTs working in pulmonary rehabilitation breathed a big sigh of relief in July when the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and a specific Medicare benefit for pulmonary rehab finally became law.

For many, that initial sense of victory, however, has turned into a string of unanswered questions. When will the benefit go into effect? Which services will be covered? What will be the frequency and duration of the services that are approved? And what do we do in the meantime?

The AARC has developed a new document aimed at answering those questions.  Download the document from the AARC website.

Equipment Rules Introduced

On January 25, Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) introduced HR 621 the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act of 2007. This bill, if enacted, will rescind a Medicare provision enacted last year that now requires Medicare home oxygen patients assume ownership of their oxygen equipment after 36 months of renting the equipment.

AARC - Major Medicare Initiative Launched

A new initiative aimed at expanding reimbursement opportunities for respiratory therapists under Medicare?s Part B program is being launched by the AARC. AARC will be seeking Congressional sponsors for legislation that will allow respiratory therapists with an RRT and a bachelor?s degree to deliver respiratory care services without the physician being present when the services are being furnished.