Breathe New Hampshire is a statewide organization that is committed to eliminating lung disease and improving the quality of life for those living with lung disease in New Hampshire. On July 1, 2008 we celebrated the one year anniversary of changing our name from the American Lung Association of New Hampshire to Breathe New Hampshire, thus ending our affiliation with the American Lung Association. We also adopted a new slogan “Improving lung health since 1916.” We believe our new slogan best explains what we stand for and what we do. Simply put, we address the issues that affect the ability of the people in New Hampshire to breathe.
We focus on issues like asthma, COPD, nicotine addiction, and our environment. In essence we care about anything and everything that affects breathing.
We fulfill our mission through advocacy efforts, public education, and research.
We are starting this blog to keep our readers up to date on what is going on in the area of respiratory health.
Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate worked together to override President Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. This piece of legislation included coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services. After President Bush vetoed HR6331, the House of Representatives overrode the veto by a vote of 383-41. The Senate followed with an override vote of its own, 70-26.
In May a six member delegation from Breathe New Hampshire joined nearly twenty other independent respiratory health organizations in Washington, D.C. to meet with NH Representatives to encourage their support of this legislation. According to Daniel Fortin, President and CEO of the state’s leading respiratory health organization, “We felt it was important for us to speak first hand with our national lawmakers to express the importance of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. The action taken in Washington yesterday will improve the quality of life for many living with lung disease. This legislation will formally establish pulmonary rehabilitation as a specific Medicare benefit category.”
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program of exercise, education and social support designed for people living with lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pulmonary Fibrosis, etc. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to decrease shortness of breath and improve quality of life scores. Emerging research is also showing that pulmonary rehabilitation may reduce health care costs.
Vincent Kanhai-Singh, a member of the Breathe New Hampshire Board of Directors and COPD patient said, “I look at this as a victory for all COPD patients.” Kanhai-Singh was diagnosed with COPD and required continuous oxygen therapy. Through participation in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, he was able to strengthen his lung capacity and discontinue oxygen use altogether.
Diane Smogor, VP of Program Services at Breathe New Hampshire said, “This legislation was a primary request we made at the United for Lung Health Federal Advocacy Day. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and New Hampshire. It is also the only leading cause of death that is steadily increasing as time goes by. We need to do all that we can to treat this disease and help relieve its burden on patients and their caregivers. The disease also places a tremendous economic burden on our state and country, in general.”
Breathe New Hampshire is a statewide non-profit organization that is committed to eliminating lung disease and improving the quality of life for those who live with lung disease. They do so through advocacy efforts, education campaigns, and research. For a current list of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in New Hampshire, or to learn more about the organization visit www.breathenh.org or call 1 -800-835-8647