APTA has posted new instructions to help members use the multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) calculators to determine their payment for services in 2013 based on the MPPR only and compare 2012 payments with 2013 payments. The downloadable step-by-step instructions include screen captures and example scenarios to better illustrate the fields that users must complete to calculate and compare payment amounts.       

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (HR 8) applies the MPPR to therapy services at 50%, up from 20% for office settings and 25% for facility settings, beginning April 1. APTA estimates the application of a 50% MPPR policy will reduce payments by approximately 6%-7%. This reduction will be partially offset by a 4% increase in the practice expense values that resulted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' use of new survey data of practice expenses conducted by APTA. The impact of the MPPR reduction on individual practices and facilities will vary depending on the CPT codes billed and the typical duration of the therapy sessions.

APTA will advocate to stop the implementation of the MPPR provision.

For more information on the MPPR, other provisions included in HR 8, and new functional limitation reporting requirements that went into effect January 1, go to APTA's 2013 Medicare Changes webpage.