CHESTMembership & CommunityAdvocacyOn the Record

On the Record

As the global leader in innovative chest medicine, CHEST fights for policies that prevent and treat lung disease, empower clinicians, and save lives. See how we have spoken out on issues that improve access to health care.

MORE ABOUT CHEST ADVOCACY

Coding, Billing, and Reimbursement

CHEST Joins Issue Brief in Support of Virtual Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation | February 18, 2025
CHEST joined a stakeholder letter led by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) urging swift congressional action on H.R. 783/S. 248, which seeks to restore and protect access to virtual cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services. The Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act would improve patient access to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services by permanently allowing Medicare patients to receive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services via virtual telecommunications technology (real-time, audiovideo) in the beneficiary’s home (which would serve as the originating site), wherever the home is located throughout the country, including when those services are furnished by hospitals as distant site providers. Additionally, virtual direct supervision by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists would be allowed through two-way audio-visual communications technology.

Letter to Congress on Medicare Physician Payments | February 10, 2025
CHEST joined the AMA-led federation in urging Congress to pass the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025, eliminating the physician fee schedule conversion factor cuts and adding an inflation adjustment to the payment schedule.

Letter to Congress Supporting Virtual Delivery of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation | December 6, 2024
CHEST joined a letter urging Congress to include a provision codifying in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation flexibilities as part of year-end telehealth legislation.

Letter to Congress on Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities | November 21, 2024
CHEST signed a letter asking Congress to extend existing Medicare telehealth flexibilities beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2024.

Letter to Congress on Medicare Physician Payments | November 15, 2024
CHEST joined the American Medical Association to urgently request that Congress pass legislation to both prevent the scheduled 2.83% Medicare physician payment cut and, critically, provide a positive payment update for 2025.

Supporting H.R. 10073 | October 29, 2024
CHEST supported the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2024, which would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase support for physicians and other practitioners in adjusting to Medicare payment changes.

Comments on ICD-10 Coding Proposals for April 2025 Implementation | September 17, 2024
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society support the creation of an ICD-10 procedure code to report transvenous diaphragm pacing with the “Lungpacer” device, to facilitate weaning and liberation from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients with respiratory failure.

Comments on ICD-10 Coding Proposals for October 2025 Implementation | September 17, 2024
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society support requested modifications to pulmonary heart disease (I27) reflecting Fontan physiology, as well as the request for diagnosis codes to describe patients with open surgical wounds requiring delayed closure.

Letter to Congress Opposing Cuts to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule | September 10, 2024
CHEST signed a letter urging Congress to ensure that Medicare payments to clinicians in 2025 and beyond are adjusted each year with an inflationary update.

Comments on 2025 PFS, OPPS, and ASC Proposed Rules | September 9, 2024
CHEST joined several organizations to provide comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) proposed rules.

Supporting Timely Access to Care for Seniors | August 9, 2024
CHEST endorses the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the prior authorization process.

Letter to Congress on MACRA Reform | July 24, 2024
CHEST, along with several national medical societies and state medical associations, urged Congress to prioritize and advance several key bills and legislative proposals that provide greater fiscal stability for physicians and reform key elements of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

Advocating for Extension of Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Support | April 24, 2024
CHEST formally supports two pieces of legislation that would retain existing coverage for pulmonary rehabilitation and help meet the increasing demand for these beneficial treatments.

Urging Changes to Proposed Critical Care Billing Policy | February 6, 2024
CHEST urges CMS to revert to its pre-2022 billing policy for critical care codes 99291 and 99292.

Urging Congress to Reverse Medicare Payment Cuts | January 23, 2024
CHEST joined the American Medical Association in urging Congress to reverse the decision to cut Medicare physician fees by 3.37% in 2024.

Accurately representing the complications and impact of delirium | November 29, 2023
CHEST endorsed the need to make a key change to the designation of delirium that recognizes it as a major complication or comorbidity.

Reforming Budget Neutrality Policies in Medicare Physician Payment Levels | October 31, 2023
Alongside national medical organizations and state medical societies, CHEST signed on a letter in support of a drafted proposal to reform budget-neutrality policies.

Joint CHEST/ATS ICD-10 Comment Letter | October 12, 2023
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society sent comments on coding proposals to be considered at the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting. The comments addressed the assignment of unique diagnostic codes for both cement and fat pulmonary emboli, as distinct from other forms of emboli (eg, thrombotic or air emboli), among other code updates.

Reflecting PCCM concerns in CMS reimbursement plan | September 28, 2023
In a formal letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CHEST and the American Thoracic Society provided comments on the Calendar Year 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The recommendations serve to reflect the needs of Medicare beneficiaries with various disorders of the lung.

Comments on CY 2024 Medicare HOPPS and ASC Payment System Proposed Rule | September 11, 2023
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society submitted shared comments on the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2024.

Comments to CMS on SEP-1 in FY2024 IPPS/LTCH PPS Proposed Rule | June 9, 2023
CHEST sent comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing strong support regarding the adoption of the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle – commonly known as “SEP-1” – into CMS's hospital value-based purchasing program, as was recommended in the FY2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Proposed Rule.

ATS/CHEST Comments on ICD-10 Prone Positioning Codes | April 24, 2023
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society expressed gratitude for the inclusion of the new ICD-10-PCS codes capturing prone positioning of intubated patients in the FY2024 Proposed Rule documents.

Strengthening Medicare for patients and providers | April 20, 2023
CHEST joined the American Medical Association in commending the US House of Representatives for introducing H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act.

Letter to Cigna on Correct Use of Modifier 25 | April 18, 2023
CHEST joined the American Medical Association in pushing back on a Cigna policy that will increase the administrative burden on physicians for routine care and put new barriers on patients in need of timely diagnoses and access to treatment.

Joining the AMA to encourage survey compliance for accurate data | April 17, 2023
CHEST joined the American Medical Association, along with over 170 health care organizations, in undertaking a national study to capture an accurate and complete representation of current practice expenses.

ATS/CHEST Comments on ICD-10 Coding Proposals | April 5, 2023
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society provided feedback on coding proposals that were considered at the March 2023 ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting. The proposals covered insufficient social insurance and welfare support, participation in the Persian Gulf theater of war, classification of obesity, post-exertional malaise/post-exertional symptom exacerbation, sepsis aftercare, and genetic disorders.

Letters Supporting Funding for CDC Office on Smoking and Health in FY 2024 Budget (House letter and Senate letter) | March 16, 2023
CHEST joined several organizations in urging House and Senate appropriations subcommittees to increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health by $63.5 million, for a total of $310 million, in the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

CHEST Joins Plea to Pass Legislation for Annual Inflation-Based Physician Payment Increases | March 15, 2023
CHEST joined the American Medical Association in urging Congress to provide physicians with an annual inflation-based payment update.

Urging CMS to Finalize Prior Authorization Reform | February 13, 2023
CHEST joined the American Medical Association, along with over 100 health care organizations, to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to strengthen its prior authorization reform effort.

Joint ATS/CHEST Comments to CMS on ICD-10 Codes | October 14, 2022
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society sent comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on coding proposals to be considered at the March 2023 ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting, including proposals related to intubated prone positioning, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, and social determinants of health.

Comments on Anthem/Elevance Insurance Coverage of Navigational Bronchoscopy | October 4, 2022
CHEST joined with the American Association of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology and the American Thoracic Society to express concern over Anthem/Elevance's medical policy stating that “navigational bronchoscopy is considered investigational and not medically necessary for all applications.” Following this letter, Anthem/Elevance overturned their policy and now deems navigational bronchoscopy as medically necessary.

AMA Sign-on Letter Regarding Medicare Physician Payments | September 22, 2022
CHEST signed onto a letter from the American Medical Association and dozens of other medical societies expressing concerns about the mounting financial instability of the Medicare physician payment system.

Letter to CMS on CY 2023 HOPPS | September 12, 2022
CHEST joined the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the American Association for Respiratory Care, and the American Thoracic Society to comment on payment changes to pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

ATS/CHEST Comments to CMS on Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2023 | September 6, 2022
CHEST and the American Thoracic Society submitted shared comments on several aspects of the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2023, including rate setting and the Medicare conversion factor, practice expense data collection, evaluation and management (E/M) visits, and more.

Letter to CMS on Practice Expense Survey Requirements | September 6, 2022
CHEST and several medical societies provided feedback to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention regarding the design, sampling, and fielding of a potential future practice expense survey.

Letter to CMS on CY 2023 Physician Fee Schedule | August 24, 2022
CHEST joined several pulmonary organizations and patient advocacy groups to comment on the safety and effectiveness of direct supervision through virtual presence as it relates to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

ICD-10 Code for Prone Positioning | June 10, 2022
CHEST and nine other groups submitted a letter to the US House of Representatives and the Senate voicing the critical need to prioritize the immunocompromised population as additional COVID-19 relief funds are considered.

ICD-10 Code for Sepsis Aftercare | June 7, 2022
CHEST, along with other members of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative, sent a letter strongly supporting a proposal for a new ICD-10-CM code, "Z51.2 – Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare." The societies noted that this code will improve public health by identifying a growing population of sepsis survivors and facilitating provision of relevant clinical services to reduce the well-known, health-related risks in postacute care settings.

SEP-1 protocol to manage severe sepsis and septic shock | April 25, 2022
Based on a long-standing commitment to reducing death and disability resulting from delayed early sepsis care, CHEST, together with the Society for Critical Care Medicine, issued a letter to the National Quality Forum regarding #0500 (SEP-1) measure - Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Management Bundle.

CMS urged to rescind APP split/shared policy | April 11, 2022
A letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requests that the agency not move forward with the billing policy updates to split/shared visits (between physicians and advanced practice providers) set to take effect in 2023.

Request to extend telehealth services issued to Congress | March 10, 2022
A letter to members of Congress urges expanded telehealth services as a method of health care delivery that may enhance the patient-physician relationship, improve health outcomes, increase access to care, and reduce medical costs when used as a component of a patient's longitudinal care.

CHEST asks Congress to extend a 3.75% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payment adjustment | December 9, 2021
CHEST and 280 other state and national associations came together to ask members of Congress to extend a 3.75% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payment adjustment through calendar year 2022.

CHEST and ATS advocate for Medicare physician fees to improve access to care | September 20, 2021
In response to the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Joint Clinical Practice Committee, comprised of leaders from the CHEST and the American Thoracic Society, formally submitted comments and suggested edits to the proposal.

Joint CHEST/ATS Comments to CMS on Proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule | October 5, 2020
CHEST and ATS submitted comments to help CMS craft the final 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule.

Position Statement for Coverage and Payment for Bronchial Thermoplasty | May 12, 2014
Bronchial thermoplasty offers treatment for patients with severe asthma who continue to be symptomatic despite maximal medical treatment. We believe the literature supports bronchial thermoplasty as a therapeutic option for patients with severe asthma.

Critical Care

Addressing the IV Fluid Shortage | October 15, 2024
CHEST calls on the FDA to coordinate efforts to mitigate IV fluid supply chain challenges in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Supporting the Sepsis Harm and Cost Reduction Act, or “LuLu’s Law” | June 4, 2024
CHEST supports H.R. 8078, known as the “Sepsis Harm and Cost Reduction Act” or “LuLu’s Law”, which would authorize federal support of states in piloting interoperable state-based repositories of sepsis cases.

Requesting Additional Funding for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome | April 19, 2023
CHEST sent a letter to Congress urging for additional funding for post-intensive care syndrome research and treatment in the FY 2024 Appropriations Bill.

PREVENT Pandemics Act | August 15, 2022
The Critical Care Societies Collaborative sent a letter to the US Senate expressing support for S. 3799, the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act).

Conviction of RaDonda Vaught | August 15, 2022
CHEST, the American Thoracic Society, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine released a joint statement on the conviction of RaDonda Vaught, a critical care nurse from Tennessee, for criminally negligent homicide for making a fatal medication error.

COVID-19 Relief Funds | June 21, 2022
CHEST and nine other groups submitted a letter to the US House of Representatives and the Senate voicing the critical need to prioritize the immunocompromised population as additional COVID-19 relief funds are considered.

Joint Statement of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative on Personal Protective Equipment | November 23, 2020
The Critical Care Societies Collaborative acknowledged all efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic through actions aimed at stemming the spread of the virus and protecting the lives of health care workers.

Joint Statement of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative to the US Congress and Trump Administration on Social Distancing | March 27, 2020
The Critical Care Societies Collaborative urged the US federal, state, and local governments to maintain and strengthen social distancing requirements.

Health Equity

Reaffirming Our Pledge to the Medical Community | January 30, 2025
Considering recent federal directives, CHEST reaffirms its commitment to education and initiatives that advance health equity, reduce barriers to care, and advance the medical profession.

Working to Secure LGBTQ+ Protections | January 6, 2025
CHEST and other organizations urge the US Court of Appeals to maintain nondiscrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act for patients of the LGBTQ+ community.

CHEST warns of impact of Braidwood Management ruling | October 21, 2024
CHEST released a statement opposing the federal district court’s ruling in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra and applauding the Department of Justice for acting so swiftly to appeal this decision. CHEST also joined amicus briefs to inform the court of the repercussions that decision could have on preventive care access.

Letter to FDA on Improving Representation in Clinical Trials | September 24, 2024
CHEST sent comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency's industry guidance on diversity action plans to improve enrollment of participants from underrepresented populations in clinical studies.

Affirming Health Equity in Medicine in Support of Improving All Patient Outcomes | August 9, 2024
CHEST is firmly committed to the necessity of diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care research, education, and delivery.

Introducing Congressional Action in Support of DEI | May 16, 2024
CHEST supports Rep. Joyce Beatty’s resolution in favor of protecting DEI within medical education in response to the recently introduced EDUCATE Act.

Expressing Support for DEI Within Medical Education | April 19, 2024
CHEST signed a collaborative letter expressing opposition to H.R. 7725, the EDUCATE Act, which would mandate that medical schools must not establish, maintain, or contract with a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office.

CHEST Joins Equity and Justice Initiative Started by AMA | February 12, 2024
CHEST commits to engaging in efforts that will have a meaningful impact on health equity.

Statement to FDA on Pulse Oximeter Accuracy and Limitations | February 2, 2024
Aaron Baugh, MD, presented a prerecorded statement on behalf of CHEST to the Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Medical Devices Advisory Committee.

Effect of Race and Ethnicity on Pulmonary Function Testing Interpretation | March 27, 2023
CHEST, the American Association of Respiratory Care, the American Thoracic Society, and the Canadian Thoracic Society collaboratively wrote an evidence review and research statement on the effect of race and ethnicity on pulmonary function testing (PFT). The statement calls for additional research, noting 10 gaps in research relating to race, ethnicity, and PFT.

Letter to Congress Requesting FY2024 Funding for National Asthma Control Program | March 20, 2023
CHEST joined several organizations in asking Congress to support a $6.5 million increase in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Asthma Control Program, bringing funding to $40 million for FY24.

Noninvasive Ventilation

CHEST Submits Public Comment to CMS on NIPPV Proposed Decision Memo | April 10, 2025
CHEST responds to the proposed decision memo on noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the home for the treatment of COPD.

Encouraging CMS to Support In-Home Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure Related to COPD | October 28, 2024
CHEST provides public comment to CMS in support of access to in-home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for the treatment of patients with chronic respiratory failure related to COPD.

Letter to Medicaid Urging Access to Home Sleep Apnea Testing | February 13, 2024
CHEST joined the American Thoracic Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to urge changes in CMS policy to expand access to home sleep apnea testing for Medicaid beneficiaries suspected of having obstructive sleep apnea.

Addressing concerns in long-term effects of OSA report | December 19, 2023
A multi-society commentary raises concerns regarding the conclusions of an AHRQ report and the potential implications for policy decisions.

Urging CMS to follow best practice CPAP for OSA guideline | April 10, 2023
CHEST expressed concern that a report to evaluate long-term health outcomes of CPAP does not reflect the current evidence-based standard of care and urged CMS to continue its coverage of CPAP therapy.

Chip shortages threaten diminished supply of CPAP machines | March 1, 2022
A letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Commerce requests the prioritization of medical devices in computer chip manufacturing and allocation.

CHEST Issues Joint Statement in Response to Philips Device Recall | June 23, 2021
CHEST issued a joint statement in response to the Philips Respironics recall of certain devices used to treat OSA, including CPAP, BPAP devices, and mechanical ventilators.

CHEST advocates for comprehensive coverage of CPAP for OSA | April 26, 2021
Together with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, CHEST participated in a multi-society response to the draft CPAP technology assessment for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea posted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Oxygen Access

An Update on Supplemental Oxygen Bill in Congress | April 17, 2025
With the SOAR Act reintroduced in Congress, CHEST joins forces with respiratory-focused organizations to advocate for the passage of supplemental oxygen access reform.

World Oxygen Day Underscores Urgent Need for Life-Changing Oxygen Reform | October 2, 2024
In honor of World Oxygen Day, 30 leading patient, provider, and professional organizations have united to call on Congress to pass the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (S. 3821/H.R. 7829).

Supplemental Oxygen Bill Introduced With CHEST Support | March 8, 2024
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2024 would establish a new payment methodology for nonliquid oxygen.

Letter to CMS on Oxygen Template Pilot Program | October 10, 2023
CHEST joined several organizations in sending a letter to CMS about the direction of an eClinical oxygen template pilot program. The groups expressed concern that the pilot appears to be focusing on the electronic interface instead of the clinical data elements in the template and complicating what should be a straightforward process.

Letter to HHS and CMS on Access to Oxygen and Respiratory Therapies After the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency | February 28, 2023
CHEST sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, regarding the need to ensure continued access to supplemental oxygen and respiratory therapies for Medicare beneficiaries following the conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Comments to FDA on Pulse Oximetry Inaccuracies | November 14, 2022
Eric Gartman, MD, FCCP, spoke on behalf of CHEST at a virtual meeting of the US Food and Drug Administration that addressed ongoing concerns over pulse oximeters providing less accurate readings on patients with darker skin, which may contribute to health disparities among many racial and ethnic groups.

Supporting more comprehensive oxygen access | July 29, 2022
CHEST issued a letter to urge Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to change their policies to ensure anyone who requires supplemental oxygen can access the most appropriate type of oxygen for their needs.

CHEST advocates for broader coverage of supplemental oxygen use | August 17, 2021
The CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy team submitted rationale for home use of oxygen coverage beyond cluster headaches to CMS.

Public Health

CHEST Joins Society Letter to Full Senate Appropriations Committee on NIH Funding | April 28, 2025
CHEST joined a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee ahead of the hearing "Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation" held on April 30, 2025, to express concerns regarding the unprecedented funding freezes, termination of approved grants, and other administrative actions that have slowed or halted respiratory health research both funded by and at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter called for leadership to act on returning the agency to the world’s premier biomedical and basic science standard by ensuring funding is restored and the administrative actions that have been taken are lifted.

CHEST Supports Continued Existence of EPA's Research Arm | April 11, 2025
CHEST cosigns a statement in support of the need for the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development, as well as its environmental oversight and guidance on air quality.

Letter to Congress on CDC Appropriations | April 9, 2025
CHEST joined a letter with 218 CDC Coalition members and other supporting state, national and academic organizations urging Congress to include $11.581 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s programs in the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The letter described to legislators that due to years of underfunding, many of CDC’s most effective prevention programs are not reaching all states and communities, hampering efforts to achieve the greatest possible health outcomes across the nation. In addition, the letter stressed that the Coalition organizations will strongly oppose any efforts to cut funding or dismantle critical CDC centers or programs or attach damaging policy riders to the bill, all of which would threaten the health and wellbeing of communities in every state.

Letter to Congress to Restore National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workforce | April 8, 2025
CHEST joined a Friends of NIOSH coalition letter to congress urging reversal of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decision to enact significant cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) workforce. NIOSH protects the nation’s 164 million workers and provides the only dedicated federal investment for research needed to prevent injuries and illnesses. Different than the regulatory approach to safety and health, NIOSH works cooperatively with employers and employees to adapt research findings into workable solutions. NIOSH is also the only federal research agency responsible for protecting the nation’s workers through evidence-based solutions.

Urging NIH to Reconsider Indirect Cost Policy | March 14, 2025
CHEST cosigned a letter to NIH that urged the institution to reconsider its recently announced policy imposing a 15% cap on indirect cost recovery for grants.

Asking the EPA to Review Ambient Air Quality Standards | March 5, 2025
CHEST cosigned a letter to the EPA on the necessity of aligning National Ambient Air Quality Standards with current science to ensure optimal public health protection.

Protecting Grant Programs and Tax Credits That Benefit Public Health | March 5, 2025
CHEST and other health organizations strongly oppose any rollbacks or weakening of IIJA or IRA provisions through budget reconciliation.

Raising Concern for the Impact of Climate Change on Pulmonary Health | January 27, 2025
CHEST supports an effort led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to propose a new heat injury and prevention standard to better protect workers from heat-related health risks.

Amicus Brief in Nebraska vs EPA | January 21, 2025
CHEST joined an amicus brief supporting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in this case. The brief explains to the court how the rule will achieve significant emissions reductions, which are expected to benefit human health, particularly for communities and social groups that are disproportionately burdened by air pollution.

Evidence-Based Medicine Must Lead the Way in Ensuring Public Health | December 9, 2024
CHEST supports the fundamental responsibility of a public health system to seek out and apply evidence-based medicine in the development of sound policies essential to preventing illness and promoting a healthy society.

Amicus brief in Kentucky vs EPA | December 6, 2024
CHEST joined an amicus brief supporting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in this case. The brief explains to the court the known adverse health effects of exposure to air pollution and current adverse health effects of climate change. The amicus brief also presents the science-based explanation of why the EPA final rule is needed and how the reduced emissions achieved with the EPA rule will improve public health.

Letter to House of Representatives Opposing CDC Budget Cuts | September 27, 2024
CHEST joined 135 state, national, and academic organizations to express strong opposition to the $1.8 billion (22%) cut to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed in the House FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

Response to NIH on Public Access of Federally Funded Research | August 19, 2024
CHEST joined several other clinical medical societies in responding to a request for information on the National Institutes of Health Draft Public Access Policy (89 FR 51537).

Letter to EPA on Pending California Clean Air Programs | August 12, 2024
CHEST joined several health and medical organizations in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to authorize pending California clean air programs, which would help reduce the health harms of air pollution from motor vehicles.

Protecting Emergency Medical Intervention for Patients Who Are Pregnant | May 7, 2024
CHEST signed on to a statement and amicus brief supporting the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act as it relates to providing an abortion as a lifesaving intervention.

Letter Supporting FY2025 Funding for CDC's National Asthma Control Program | April 24, 2024
CHEST joined several health organizations in urging members of the Senate and House of Representatives to support a $6.5 million increase in funding for the CDC's National Asthma Control Program, bringing funding to $40 million for fiscal year 2025.

Statement on Protection and Safety of Health Care Workers | December 6, 2023
CHEST stands behind International Humanitarian Law, which defines the protection and safety that must be afforded to all health workers and their patients in times of conflict.

Supporting Medically Complex Care for Patients Who Are Pregnant | November 30, 2023
CHEST supports an amicus brief arguing that clinicians must be able to exercise their discretion to provide critical care to patients who are pregnant in medically complex cases.

Responding to NIH's Invitation for Comments on Its Mission Statement | November 24, 2023
CHEST suggested a revised mission statement for the National Institutes of Health that refocuses its work on health optimization and universal accessibility.

Collaborating for better sleep health | November 8, 2023
CHEST supported the position put forth by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for US adoption of year-round standard time, which more fully aligns with the natural circadian rhythm.

Proposing Changes in Rule to Protect Miners and Reduce Silica Dust Exposure | September 11, 2023
CHEST, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Lung Association signed a letter offering support and commentary on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA’s) proposed rule to lower miners' exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

CHEST Signs On to Combat Climate Change | May 31, 2023
CHEST formally endorses The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health in its mission to "successfully advocate for equitable climate solutions that protect and promote the health of all people."

Amicus Brief in Support of Medical Guidelines as Statements of Opinion | April 17, 2023
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies—of which CHEST is a member—filed a statement about the critical importance of medical guidelines. The council agrees with the district court that medical guidelines should be considered statements of medical opinion.

Supporting standards for reduced carbon dioxide emissions | February 13, 2023
Together with a coalition of medical societies, CHEST formally supported the United States Environmental Protection Agency in granting the California waiver for greenhouse gas emissions. CHEST supported amicus briefs arguing that the Clean Air Act is a public health statute that serves the precise aim of slowing climate change and the public health crisis that it foments.

CMS Request for Information: Promoting Efficiency and Equity Within CMS Programs | November 2, 2022
The CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee provided responses to CMS regarding challenges accessing health care, factors impacting provider well-being, strategies for advancing health equity, and the impact of waivers and flexibilities issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suit Against Medical Journal Threatens Scholarly Publishing | October 20, 2022
As a member of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, CHEST signed an amicus brief focusing on First Amendment protection for debate about scientific conclusions to develop safe and effective medicine and the efficacy of the peer-review process for medical journals in protecting against malice.

Consumer Education on Opioid Safety | October 18, 2022
CHEST and six other groups sent a letter to the Commissioner of the FDA expressing concern that consumers are generally unaware of the inherent dangers posed by prescription opioids and offering recommendations on how to ameliorate this problem.

CHEST Responds to Need for Education and Advocacy in Nashville | July 21, 2022
CHEST will hold CHEST 2022 in Nashville, as planned. CHEST will use this platform to be educators and advocates for change while providing the opportunity to learn, debate and explore the fields of pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine.

An Ethical Accountability to the Patient-Physician Relationship | July 12, 2022
CHEST encourages its members to speak against any action that invades, weakens, or usurps the ability of the patient to discuss medical options with their physician freely and to receive appropriate medical care without delay or interference.

Gun violence is a public health threat | May 26, 2022
Gun violence is a public health threat to children, families, and communities that cannot be ignored.

Respiratory societies show support for Ukraine | March 14, 2022
International respiratory societies issue statement of support for Ukraine.

Inaccuracy of pulse oximeters based on skin pigmentation requires additional FDA regulation | February 10, 2022
Through the Critical Care Societies Collaborative, CHEST is urging the FDA to direct developers and manufacturers of FDA-regulated pulse oximeters to test all devices to ensure accurate and reliable readings for patients with diverse degrees of skin pigmentation.

CHEST signs letter in support of OSHA’s vaccine requirement | November 18, 2021
CHEST joins fellow medical societies in support of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration employee vaccine mandate for all businesses with 100 or more employees.

Critical care and pulmonary societies encourage flu shots amid COVID spread | October 18, 2021
With flu season approaching and the infection rates for COVID-19 continuing to spike across the country, CHEST encourages all eligible individuals to get their immunizations for both influenza and COVID-19.

CHEST’s Pledge for Equity | June 2, 2020
CHEST and its members pledge to fight for every human breath and be a voice for eliminating health care disparity in all its forms.

CHEST issues a letter to the Visitors and Conventions Bureau in Texas | June 20, 2017
Stephen J. Welch, Executive Vice President & CEO of CHEST, issued a letter to the Visitors and Conventions Bureau in Texas regarding “bathroom bills.”

Tobacco & Vaping

Letters to Congress in Support of Funding of the CDC Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) (House letter and Senate letter) | April 30, 2025
CHEST joined letters to both the House and the Senate led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids urging members of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations to recognize the important role that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays in protecting Americans from a wide array of health threats and to provide $310 million for its Office on Smoking and Health (OSH). The letters also expressed the coalition's deep concerns about the recent mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services, including the elimination of CDC OSH.

Letter Opposing Potential Cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund | February 26, 2025
CHEST joined several organizations urging Congress to oppose possible cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). The Prevention Fund is a critical source of funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the CDC’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs, and supports investments in every state to reduce tobacco use, strengthen immunization programs, detect and control disease outbreaks, provide cancer screening, and much more.

Coalition Letter on FY2025 Appropriations Bills | January 30, 2025
CHEST joined a letter to the House and Senate urging legislators to ensure that the Food and Drug Administration retains its full authority to oversee tobacco products and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention receives necessary resources to protect kids from tobacco products and reduce tobacco-related disease.

Putting Pressure on Unauthorized e-Cigarette Products | June 12, 2024
CHEST and other associations ask for stronger regulations against unauthorized e-cigarette products coming into the U.S.

Letter Supporting Funding for CDC Office on Smoking and Health in FY 2025 Budget | March 25, 2024
CHEST joined several organizations in urging the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to provide $310 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health as part of the FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Key Points From White House Meeting on Banning Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars | January 24, 2024
CHEST and other medical society representatives shared statistics and notable points surrounding general health impacts of tobacco and the specific impact of menthol products on youth and Black Americans.

Urging Appropriations Committee to Protect FDA, CDC Involvement in Tobacco Control, Prevention | January 9, 2024
CHEST asks the congressional Committee on Appropriations to preserve the FDA's ability to oversee tobacco products and maintain funding for the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

Encouraging a final rule to ban menthol products by 2024 | December 12, 2023
In a formal letter to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, CHEST stresses the need to issue the Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes (menthol cigarette rule) in final form without delay.

In Strong Support of the Helping Users Quit Act | September 28, 2023
CHEST signed on a letter in support of the Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act, which will ensure access to the full array of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatments for all those enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Supplementing US framework for smoking cessation | August 18, 2023
CHEST provided comments on the Department of Health and Human Services 2023 Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation. The comments included suggestions on specific benchmarks and metrics with an emphasis on those affecting populations and communities disproportionately impacted by smoking-related morbidity and mortality.

Making Veterans Health Administration Facilities Fully Smoke-Free | March 6, 2023
CHEST signed on a letter to the House of Representatives in support of legislation to make Veterans Health Administration facilities fully smoke-free.

Continued support for prohibiting manufacture and sale of menthol and flavored cigarettes | February 24, 2023
In letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives, CHEST, along with a coalition of medical societies, voiced strong support for the proposed rules that the Food and Drug Administration issued to prohibit the manufacture and sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

Improving access to tobacco cessation services | September 9, 2022
CHEST and the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence called for an improved payment model and expanded access to evidence-based clinical tobacco cessation services.

Flavors in Cigars | August 2, 2022
CHEST, along with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, sent a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration supporting a proposed rule that would prohibit characterizing flavors in cigars, as these products are disproportionately targeted toward communities of color and youth.

Menthol in Cigarettes | August 2, 2022
CHEST, along with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, sent a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration supporting a proposed rule that would prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes.

FDA Authority Over Tobacco Products | June 14, 2022
CHEST, along with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, sent a letter to the US House of Representatives urging legislators not to include provisions in an appropriations bill that would weaken the FDA’s authority over tobacco products.

CHEST Tobacco Regulatory Priorities | June 2, 2022
CHEST extended a letter to the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, Robert Califf, MD, to share key priorities for tobacco and vaping regulation.

CHEST issues statement on Big Tobacco | December 23, 2021
CHEST calls upon tobacco companies to divest from tobacco-based products, which unquestionably cause and contribute to chronic, devastating, and life-threatening diseases. CHEST also calls upon lawmakers to draft legislation toward preventing future acquisitions that allow companies to simultaneously add to the global burden of lung disease while profiting from its treatment.

CHEST signs letter to FDA urging swift action to close the synthetic nicotine loophole | December 7, 2021
In an effort to close a regulatory loophole, CHEST and other medical, scientific, and public health organizations joined together to request that the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products take immediate action to regulate synthetic nicotine e‐cigarette products.

CHEST joins call for presidential funding to increase tobacco prevention and cessation | November 12, 2021
Together with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and 60 other societies, CHEST signaled support of the White House Office of Management and Budget in requesting $310 million to expand access to tobacco cessation medications and related Medicaid services.

CHEST issues response to the Philip Morris acquisition of Vectura | August 17, 2021
CHEST issues a statement in response to PMI’s intent to purchase Vectura.

CHEST supports expanded coverage for lung cancer screenings | June 17, 2021
In response to the proposed National Coverage Analysis for Screening for Lung Cancer with Low Dose Computed Tomography, CHEST and the American Thoracic Society provided comments to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for more inclusive coverage of lung cancer screening.

CHEST Commends FDA on Pledge to Ban Menthol Cigarettes | April 30, 2021
CHEST supports the Federal Drug Administration statement pledging to “ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and ban all characterizing flavors (including menthol) in cigars” within the next year.

CHEST and ATS Collaborate on Policy Statement for Implementation of LDCT Screening Programs | October 15, 2015
The American Thoracic Society and CHEST convened a committee with expertise in lung cancer screening, pulmonary nodule evaluation, and implementation science, and reviewed the evidence from systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines, surveys, and the experience of early-adopting LDCT screening programs and summarized potential strategies to implement LDCT screening programs successfully.

Training and Assessment Standards