ALEXANDRIA, VA, September 11, 2009 — In his speech before
Congress on Wednesday, President Obama called for the elimination of
arbitrary limits on health care services that Americans can receive in a
given year or in a lifetime -- a policy that the American Physical
Therapy Association (APTA) supports as the nation's leaders work to
guarantee access to affordable health care for all individuals through
health care reform.
"We're pleased that President Obama has taken a stance against
arbitrary financial limits on health care services," said APTA President
R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "For more than 10 years, APTA has worked with
Congress to repeal the Medicare cap on outpatient physical therapy
services that restricts access to rehabilitative services for America's
seniors. It is time for Congress to deal with this serious health policy
problem and repeal the therapy cap. To do less at this time of overall
reform would burden the American public with still greater costs down
the road the road by requiring yet additional legislation to protect
patients from an arbitrary limit on therapy services."
The Medicare therapy caps were originally adopted by Congress in the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Since 1999, Congress has acted to prevent
implementation of the caps by passing several moratoria and authorizing
an exceptions process for rehabilitation services above the financial
limitation based on diagnosis and clinician evaluation and judgment. An
18-month extension of the exceptions process was included in the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (HR 6331), which
passed July 15, 2008. The exceptions process is set to expire December
31, 2009.
Physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care
professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore
mobility - in many cases without expensive surgery or the side effects
of prescription medications. APTA represents more than 72,000 physical
therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical
therapy nationwide. Its purpose is to improve the health and quality of
life of individuals through the advancement of physical therapist
practice, education, and research. In most states, patients can make an
appointment directly with a physical therapist, without a physician
referral. Learn more about conditions physical therapists can treat and
find a physical therapist in your area at www.moveforwardpt.com.