The ensuring medicare access to Recreation Therapy act is at risk of being lost in committee and unless we act now 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 write one paragraph on the first contact form letter , then write your congressman/woman’s name (information on how to find them is included in the letter), your name, voting address, and fax it to your congressman Fax numbers and addresses . If you have already written a letter but have not recieved a resonse, 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; TR consumer letter . The entire bill can be reviewed at the folowing link Official HR bill . Some of the key points are that: - 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 and 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 the congressman-congresswomen join the 30 other congresspeople and co-sponsor the bill. Our goal is to get 10 Illinois congressman/women 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). E-mail kriley@childrensmemorial.org so that we can track letters and follow up with the congressmen. Contact this address as well if you are willing to try to set up a face to face meeting with your congressperson.