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Excessive time and resources spent on documentation and administrative tasks can hurt patient outcomes.
Coding and billing, prior authorization, utilization review, excessive documentation standards, overly complex health IT—the unnecessary hoops PTs are required to jump through demand time and energy that could be focused instead on providing patient-centered care. Reduced administrative burden is something that needs to happen in every practice setting and payer, both commercial and federal.
Why It Matters
An APTA survey of members found that nearly 75 percent of respondents believe that administrative burdens such as prior authorization delay access to medically necessary care by 25%, and nearly as many agreed that these burdens negatively impact patient outcomes. More than 8 in 10 said that administrative burden contributes to burnout. And unnecessary burden is costly: our survey found that more than 75% of facilities have added nonclinical staff to accommodate administrative burden.
Care is being shortchanged. Providers are being pushed to their limits. Facilities are being forced to redirect money away from direct care to pay for unnecessary paperwork. It's time for a change.
Our position
APTA vigorously works to fight excessive administrative burden in whatever form it takes, and in all payment systems.
Recommended Content
Mar 21, 2024 / Position Paper
APTA strongly supports the Remove Duplicative Unnecessary Clerical Exchanges Act, or the REDUCE Act (H.R. 7279). This bipartisan bill would streamline the current plan of care certification requirement under Medicare Part B to reduce administrative burden
Mar 7, 2023 / Infographic
Share this infographic that demonstrates how the amount of time and resources spent on documentation and administrative tasks impacts patient clinical outcomes.
Mar 22, 2024 / Position Paper
Bipartisan legislation that would increase oversight and transparency around the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans and require streamlining and standardization on their use of prior authorization.
Jul 1, 2019 / News
A wide majority of PTs say administrative burden negatively impacts patient outcomes and contributes to clinician burnout.
Additional Administrative Burden Advocacy Content
Mar 12, 2024 / News
The resolution articulates support for reduced administrative burden and better access to mental health care for providers.
Feb 8, 2024 / News
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House would relieve PTs from having to pursue signed plans of care from referring physicians.
Aug 22, 2023 / Roundup
It's not all about the cuts. CMS is also signaling the possibility of some major positive changes — and your opinion matters.
Aug 18, 2023 / News
The changes, which affect outpatient physical therapy, DME, and home care, are part of a UHC effort to reduce administrative burden.
Jul 26, 2023 / News
UHC has dropped a signoff requirement that sparked concerns from APTA.
Jul 26, 2023 / News
The legislation would achieve APTA's goal of ending the Medicare direct supervision mandate for private practice.
Jul 24, 2023 / Roundup
Growing participation in the PT Compact, expanded direct access, ability to order imaging, limits on prior authorization, and more.
Jun 28, 2023 / News
Along with APTA Private Practice, the associations have a plan for reform that could dramatically alter the Medicare payment landscape.
Jun 14, 2023 / Roundup
The year isn't even half over, and the association has already scored some major victories for the profession (and teed up a few more).
Apr 27, 2023 / News
The APTA-supported provisions announced by CMS will help reduce administrative burden and ensure consistency across MA plans.