Advocacy Articles
Updates about legislative and regulatory issues impacting the field of sleep medicine
Thank you to all of the attendees who chose to support the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Political Action Committee (AASM PAC) during Sleep Medicine Trends 2016. We have extended our donation deadline to this Friday so please donate to help us reach our goal!
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Political Action Committee (AASM PAC) will be hosting a PAC lunch this weekend during Sleep Medicine Trends 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Robert Graham, Chairman of the Arizona GOP, will be the speaker for this event.
On Feb. 2, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine attended a meeting led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop voluntary evidence-based guidelines for fatigue risk management tailored to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) occupation.
This week a group of Republican and Democratic Senators introduced the CONNECT for Health Act (Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies), which would expand telehealth services in Medicare.
Representatives from the AASM will attend a meeting led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to discuss a new initiative by NHTSA to develop voluntary evidence-based guidelines for fatigue risk management tailored to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) occupation.
Earlier this week the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unveiled its 2016 Most Wanted List, which includes “reducing fatigue-related accidents” as one of the most critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, contributions to the AASM Political Action Committee (PAC) successfully outpaced those from 2014. Start the New Year on the right foot and join the movement for forward-thinking sleep medicine policy. I encourage you to make a donation to the AASM PAC today.
Last week, Politico published the article, "Asleep at the wheel," which addresses the lack of federal regulations for screening rail employees for sleep disorders.
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate teamed together to delay both the Medical Device Tax - a 2.3% tax on certain medical devices - and the Cadillac Tax, a tax on high-end health insurance plans. President Obama signed the bipartisan legislation, stalling the implementation of both taxes by two years.
On Dec. 10, the AASM urged members to contact your lawmakers to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, a bill guaranteeing health care for 9/11 first responders. The Zadroga Act, attached to Congress’ new $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill, passed in bipartisan fashion and was promptly signed by President Obama last Friday.