Last week, members and friends of the COPD Foundation and Bronchiectasis and NTM Association patient, caregiver, and health care communities convened in Washington, D.C. for a day of lung health advocacy on Capitol Hill.
Together, 54 advocates from 28 states met with their congressional representatives to ask that they urgently advance our most pressing lung health policy priorities. So far, we have submitted 133 official appropriations (lung health funding) requests and held a total of 101 legislative meetings in 45 House districts and 56 Senate districts. Through the dedication of our incredible advocates, we have the momentum needed to move this important work forward!
Asks for representatives include increased funding for lung health research and promotion of innovative treatments, permanent Medicare coverage for virtual pulmonary rehabilitation, and co-sponsorship on the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act. Click the following link to learn more about IMPACT and our policy priorities: https://copdf.co/IMPACT
This year, we were also thrilled to be joined by COPD awareness truck driver and COPD Foundation Pennsylvania State Captain, Tom Manges. His COPD awareness truck helped us garner even more attention this year in Washington. Click the following link to learn more about Tom and his wife Renee who has benefitted from a successful double lung transplant: https://copdf.co/Toms-truck
Thank you so much to all the lung health champions who have joined us on and off Capitol Hill to help us advance policy priorities that can and will make life better for those affected by chronic lung disease.
