Legislation Would Eliminate 'Cap' on Physical Therapy Services for Medicare Beneficiaries
Legislation introduced April 14, 2011, would eliminate the onerous therapy cap that has imposed arbitrary limits on physical therapy services so often needed by senior citizens after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or hip fracture, or to effectively manage conditions such as Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, or arthritis, says APTA.
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (HR 1546 /S 829) introduced in the US House of Representatives by Reps Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA), and in the US Senate by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would permanently repeal the $1,870 therapy "cap" imposed on physical therapy and physical therapy and speech-language pathology services for all outpatient settings, with the exception for hospital outpatient departments. A separate cap applies to occupational therapy.
"The detrimental effects of the therapy caps on patients are well-documented," said APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "The cap is simply a bad policy that must be completely reversed."