The Medicare Access to Recreation Therapy Act is at risk of being lost in committee unless we act now or else a vital part of our field will be in jeopardy; the next 15 days will be crucial. The only way we can pass this bill is if we work together to let our congressmen know that this bill is important to us and the people we serve.

All you have to do is send a letter to your congressman (contact information). If you have already written a letter but have not received a response, you can send a follow-up letter to ask them again. There is also a letter for recipients of therapeutic recreation services to send if your participants wish to join the cause.

The entire bill can be reviewed but here are some of the key points:

• The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services verbalize that TR is a covered service but it is not clear in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual. We are asking for clarification of language to prevent misinterpretation by fiscal intermediaries and therefore ensure access to therapeutic recreation for the patients who will benefit from the service.
• The bill is budget neutral and we are asking that more congressmen join the 30 other congressmen to co-sponsor the bill.

Our goal is to get 10 Illinois congressmen in the next 15 days to co-sponsor the bill. It is a lofty goal but we can do it if we are able to put aside any differences and unite our entire profession, no matter what population we serve.

After you send a letter (or a friend/family member or participant sends a letter) email Kenny Riley at kriley@childrensmemorial.org so that we can track letters and follow-up with the congressmen. Contact Kenny Riley if you are also willing to setting up a face-to-face meeting with your congressman.