The NASL Advocacy Center has generated more than 1,200 messages to Capitol Hill during the past 10 days, but we need to continue the barrage, as Congress is expected to vote on an extension of the therapy cap exceptions process later this week. Our focus had been on the House of Representatives, but we have now expanded our message to include members of the Senate. Congress must pass the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill by December 18, and this appears to be the bill that will include extensions to several Medicare programs, including the therapy cap exceptions process. NASL has already sent letters to Democratic and Republican leaders requesting an extension, and it will be a signatory on a joint letter from patient and provider groups that will be delivered to congressional leaders tomorrow. Although the situation looks favorable, things remain fluid, so it is essential that the long-term care community continue to make a strong grassroots effort to include a short-term extension of the therapy cap exceptions process in the appropriations bill. The next three days will be critical, so we request your immediate action on this alert.

**Action Needed**

Please urge your employees to visit the NASL Advocacy Center and send messages to their legislators in support of the exceptions process. The NASL Advocacy Center is primed to facilitate grassroots action by NASL members and their employees on the therapy cap issue. The NASL site is easy to use and requires a minimum amount of effort. A sample letter is posted, and while we encourage people to personalize their messages, it is not required. Employees can send e-mail messages to their legislators simply by adding their names and addresses to the letter we have prepared. People sending messages through the site will receive a confirmation message from NASL. It is not necessary for people to know the names and addresses of their legislators in order to send messages. All we need is a person’s Zip Code in order to match them with their legislators – the advocacy center does the matching automatically. In order for the advocacy center to be effective, we need your help in encouraging employees to visit the site. The NASL Advocacy Center provides an easy way for your employees to register their concerns on the therapy cap issue with their legislators in the House and Senate.

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