Thanks!
The extensive advocacy by physical therapists and patients made the
difference! Thanks for your work to ensure Medicare beneficiaries access
to essential rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists and
physical therapy assistants. APTA will continue to advocate for
long-term policy solutions to the flawed payment formula, a permanent
solution to the therapy cap once and for all, and other Medicare policy
initiatives.
Thank Your Members of Congress!
Model Letter from PTs | Model Letter from Patients
July 15 Update: Congress Overrides Presidential Veto (HR 6331)
This afternoon, the United States House of Representatives and the
Senate voted to override
the Presidential veto to pass HR 6331 - the Medicare Improvements
for Patients and Providers Act. HR 6331 includes critical
provisions for physical therapists and their patients, including
legislation to avoid the 10.6% cut in payments under the Medicare
physician fee schedule and the expiration of the therapy cap exceptions
process.
The House passed
this legislation by a 383-41 vote and by a 70-26 Senate vote. A
two-thirds vote was needed by the House and the Senate to override the
Presidential veto. Once the Senate voted to approve HR 6331, it now
becomes law immediately.
Related
Podcast (Updated 7/16)
HR 6331: Provisions Critical to Physical Therapist Practice and the
Patients We Serve
- An 18 month extension of the therapy cap exceptions process until
December 31, 2009 to ensure access for seniors and persons with
disabilities to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and
speech-language pathology services.
- Continuation of the .5% update for the remainder of 2008 and a 1.1%
update for 2009 in the conversion factor to maintain adequate payments
to providers under the Medicare program. This provision overrides a
scheduled 10.6% reduction in payments under the Medicare physician fee
schedule for the reminder of 2008 and an additional 5.0% cut for
2009.
- Extension of the Medicare Work Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI)
under the Medicare physician fee schedule to ensure payment equity and
access to services in rural America.
- Increases the bonus payments for qualified providers that meet the
criteria for reporting under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
(PQRI) from 1.5% to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010 to improve quality in the
Medicare program.
- Delays competitive bidding of Durable Medical Equipment,
Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) under Medicare for 18
months by voiding Round 1 of the DMEPOS competitive acquisition program.
This provision sets a new process for competitive bidding. DMEPOS items
included in round 1 will be reduced by 9.5% to off-set the cost of this
provision.
- Improves Medicare coverage of prevention services for seniors and
persons with disabilities.
- Expands scope and duration of previously authorized medical home
demonstration to improve access to primary health care.
- Adds hospital-based or critical access hospital-based renal dialysis
centers, skilled nursing facilities, and community mental health centers
to list of originating sites for payment of telehealth services.
A direct link to this information you are reading now: www.apta.org/takeaction
More Information
Medicare
Updates
Medicare
Fee Schedule Resource Center | Fee
Schedule Guidelines
Therapy
Cap Resource Center
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