As unusually warm temperatures continue to permeate the Northeast, it’s reminding all of us that we are closer to spring than we think. But April is going to bring more than sunny skies and newly-bloomed flowerbeds to the area.
In mid-April, the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) will descend on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for its annual Legislative Day – a two-day event dedicated to making sure healthcare providers’ issues and concerns are heard loud and clear by the government.
“Legislative Day provides a valuable opportunity to meet with key leaders to communicate our perspective on healthcare challenges” said AAHAM President, Christine Stottlemyer, CPAM, in a press release. “It also provides an excellent forum to hear about the critical healthcare issues that are being addressed in Washington today from prominent speakers. With the 2012 elections just around the corner, this is a very significant time for our members to be in Washington.”
During this year’s event – slated for April 11 to 12 at the Hyatt Regency Washington – challenges related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act will be taking center stage, as the AAHAM aims to push Congress toward taking action to modernize this act for the 21st Century. Originally passed and signed into law in 1991, the TCPA is a primary U.S. law restricting the use of automatic dialing systems, pre-recorded voice messages, SMS text messages and the use of fax machines to send unwarranted advertisements.
Additionally, it governs the technical requirements of fax machines, auto dialers and voice broadcast systems, specifically in regards to identification and contact information of the entity using the device to be included in the message.
The restrictions put forth by the TCPA have been problematic for the AAHAM, which claims healthcare providers and agents cannot be restricted from contacting consumers on the phone number they provide and through popular outreach methods like auto dialers and pre-recorded messages. Doing so has blocked many providers from obtaining payments, leading to increases in healthcare costs.
“This event provides a great opportunity for AAHAM members and consumers. AAHAM will be educating members of Congress on the need to make critical changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which is a bi-partisan issue supported by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, as well as the President. Technology has changed so rapidly that it is critical that we update the rules and regulations governing the TCPA,” said Paul A. Miller, AAHAM’s Congressional Liaison of Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies. “This is one issue that truly has bi-partisan support and needs to be enacted today.”
Invited speakers to Legislative Day include Brad Schweer, legislative director to Rep. Lee Terry (R-In); Jennifer Tolbert of the Kaiser Family Foundation; and Kimberly Overbeck, budget review director of Minority Staff of the House Budget Committee.
Whereas the AAHAM is looking to crack down on loosening robocall restrictions, the FCC (News - Alert) is working hard to put a stop to robocalls, or unsolicited automated phone calls generated by telemarketers. In late February, the FCC announced it would now require telemarketers to acquire written permission from consumers before placing a robocall. This new policy even eliminates the loophole enabling telemarketers to place a call if they had an “established business relationship” with the client, as consent will now be needed to do so.
In addition, all robocalls will now include an automated opt-out option so consumers can instantly inform telemarketers that they no longer want to receive calls. The FCC further clarified that “written consent” doesn’t necessarily mean handwritten, as electronic forms are also acceptable.
Edited by Jennifer Russell