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The 2025 fee schedule demonstrates the value of APTA advocacy.
APTA Has Submitted Comments on the Proposed Rule to CMS
Thank you, APTA members, for sending more than 2,600 letters to CMS on the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule using APTA's Patient Action Center template letter and award-winning custom comment letter tool.
We also submitted our comments on behalf of the profession and will share updates on the final rule when it is published this fall.
Stay in the know on ways you can amplify the profession’s voice on advocacy issues that matter to you. Sign up for APTA's Advocacy Network — free for APTA members.
The Issue
The proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule once again includes a payment reduction to nearly all clinical specialties, including to outpatient physical therapists. However, in response to immense legislative and regulatory pressure from APTA advocates, the proposed rule contains two key wins for the profession. First, CMS proposes general supervision for PTAs in Part B settings. Additionally, the agency also proposes to allow an order or referral from a physician to serve as the signature on the therapist’s plan of care. Both proposals are the result of years persistent advocacy to CMS through comment letters and on Capitol Hill via the REDUCE Act and EMPOWER Act.
Why It Matters
Payment to dozens of professions continues to be cut year-over-year to no avail. To stop these cuts, CMS must permanently fix the fee schedule. In the meantime, allowing PTAs to be supervised virtually will greatly increase their ability to access and treat patients. Similarly, making an exception to the plan of care signature requirements will maximize the time PTs can spend treating patients. Both are positive steps towards reducing administrative burden and expanding provider autonomy.
Our Position
APTA strenuously opposes any attempt to reduce payment for physical therapy under Medicare, and will continue to advocate to both CMS and Congress for an overhaul of the fee schedule.
As these payment cuts affect a variety of stakeholders, APTA is working diligently with the wider clinician community to mitigate the impact of these cuts. Additionally, APTA will continue to advocate alongside our sister therapy organizations to secure general supervision of PTAs in all Medicare settings and finalize the exception to the plan of care signature requirements. But we can’t do it alone.
Opportunities for Action
In this year’s proposal for the 2025 fee schedule, APTA members have an incredible opportunity to advocate on two keys issues that, if finalized, will positively impact the physical therapy profession.
To secure this win, APTA offers two different ways to get involved. Members have the choice of either submitting a template letter or using APTA’s comment letter tool to tell CMS about their personal experiences providing care to Medicare patients. No matter what way you chose to raise your voice, we need to garner support to get these proposals across the finish line. Learn more about both options at the APTA Regulatory Action Center.
Stay Up to Date
To learn more about other proposals in this year’s fee schedule, watch APTA's Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates webinar from Aug. 8. The webinar is free for members.
You can also listen to APTA staff experts Andrew Amari, JD, and Rachel Miller, MPH, share wins and challenges from the proposed fee schedule in this APTA Podcast episode released Aug. 6.
APTA members can join the APTA Advocacy Network for free to receive action alerts on federal legislative issues and more.
Recommended Content
Jul 16, 2024 / News
Cuts continue, but APTA's advocacy helped spark positive movement related to PTA supervision, prior authorization, and more.
Jul 16, 2024 / News
The proposed rule includes small changes to telehealth policies and the Quality Payment Program.
Mar 22, 2024 / Position Paper
APTA supports H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. The bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., Ami Bera, D-Calif., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks,
Mar 22, 2024 / Position Paper
Enactment of EMPOWER Act would standardize the supervision requirement from direct to general for private practices, help ensure continued patient access to needed therapy services, and give practices more flexibility in meeting needs of beneficiaries.
Jan 22, 2024 / News
The updated member benefit reflects where payment stands as of Jan. 19. If Congress makes changes, the tool will be updated.
Additional Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Advocacy Content
Aug 30, 2024 / News
APTA resources help you easily share comments on the proposed fee schedule and policies relating to PTA supervision and plan of care rules.
Mar 8, 2024 / Article
The package includes a 1.68% boost to the fee schedule but falls short of totally eliminating the cut to dozens of providers.
Feb 28, 2024 / News
Describing health care providers as "at a breaking point," 32 senators urge short- and long-term fixes as the next spending deadline looms.
Feb 21, 2024 / Issue Brief
Feb 8, 2024 / News
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House would relieve PTs from having to pursue signed plans of care from referring physicians.
Jan 19, 2024 / News
The stopgap agreement expires in March, setting up another opportunity to press for a fee schedule fix.
Dec 14, 2023 / News
A new bipartisan bill provides full relief to the 3.4% cuts, but nothing can happen until Congress comes back from recess.
Nov 29, 2023 / Article
Time is running out for Congress to take action on cuts to the 2024 Medicare fee schedule. Are there paths that could lead to relief?
Nov 15, 2023 / Article
Don't overlook the details, of course, but also consider these four broad messages the rule is sending.
Nov 3, 2023 / News
The projected 3.4% cut is another indication that it's time for reform, but other APTA-backed provisions are good news for the profession.